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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 
GEORGIA 

1786 -1886 








ii 






Thaddeus Brockett Rice 
















HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 
GEORGIA 

1786-1886 


Data by 

DR. THADDEUS BROCKETT RICE 


Edited by 

CAROLYN WHITE WILLIAMS 
(Mrs. Carlton Candler Williams) 


m 


The J. W. Burke Company 
Macon, Georgia 
19 6 1 



Copyright 1961 

By Board of Commissioners of Roads 
and Revenues For Greene County, Ga. 
R. C. Corry, Chairman 



* 2771 ? 


The Sponsors of this Book Dedicate it 
To the memory of Thaddeus Brockett Rice and 
Mayme Bowen Rice. 


LOVE OF COUNTRY 


Breathes there a man with soul so dead 
Who never to himself hath said, 

“This is my own, my native land!” 

Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d, 
As home his footsteps he hath turn’d, 
From wandering on a foreign strand? 

If such there breathe go, mark him well! 
For him no minstrel raptures swell; 

High though his titles, proud his name, 
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim 
Despite those titles, power and pelf, 

The wretch concentered all in self, 

Living, shall forfeit fair renown, 

And, doubly dying, shall go down 
To the vile dust from whence he sprung, 
Unswept, unhonour’d and unsung. 


—Sir Walter Scott. 


PREFACE 


It is most unusual that the history of a county should be 
gathered painstakingly for more than tweny years by a man, 
not a native of that county, and not for money. This man was 
Dr. Thaddeus Brockett Rice, who was born ,and grew to man¬ 
hood in Prattsville, Alabama. 

Dr. Rice lived most of his life in Greene County and had 
an abiding love and pride in her past, present and future. He 
served her interests in many capacities. He was pharmacist, 
druggist, County Historian, telephone manager for a time, 
Mayor, Chairman of Board of Welfare, Chairman of Red 
Cross, President of a Bank, Deacon and Treasurer in the Bap¬ 
tist Church, and had filled at different times all of the offices 
in the San Marino Lodge F & M in Greensboro. He was Presi¬ 
dent of the Pharmaceutical Association in 1910. 

Please remember, as you read this book that Dr. Rice 
gathered this material and made the remarks, in the 1930’s and 
40’s all of which was pertinent to that time and place and to his 
own way of thinking. As best I can, I have tried to verify the 
dates but do not take any responsibility for his mistakes. 

His dearest wish was to have the data which he had gather¬ 
ed, published as Greene County’s own history. He died April 
18, 1950, without his dream being fulfilled. Ten years later, 
Miss Catherine Cornwell, a friend of Dr. Rice, and also an 
adopted daughter of Greene County—she hails from Louisiana 
—became so interested in publishing the history, that she tried 
to interest others. She captured my interest with her letters and 
an interview. 

I was the third person to fall under the spell of this 
eleventh county of Georgia, organized on February 3, 1786, 
and after Mr. Seaborn Ashley and Miss Cornwell had presented 
the idea to the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues 
in and for Greene County, Georgia, composed of ROBERT C. 
CORRY, Chairman, T. H. McGIBONY, and C. L. RHODES, 
SR., they wholeheartedly agreed to publish the book. Miss Caro¬ 
line Ashley made and developed most of the pictures. 

vii 


I have read and culled through enough data to make two 
large books. All of this material is splendid and has historic 
value, so I have taken the highlights from the rich background 
of this old county and now present it to you, and if you will 
step down the staircase of time and pause whenever you please, 
we will re-enact the scenes of yester-years. Through reading the 
history of our forefathers and pioneer days, it will provide us 
with the understanding of those dramatic events which give 
meaning to the complexity of our civilization. 

History, to my mind, is entertainment at its best, whether 
in books, radio, television or the stage. Next to my own beloved 
county of Jones, of which I wrote the history, comes this fasci¬ 
nating county of Greene which makes her contribution to the 
ever-widening stream that is our own America. Her story gives 
us a stimulus and inspiration to carry the old forward to meet 
the Nuclear Age in which we live. What pioneers ever dreamed 
that satellites would be making pictures of the earth from the 
sky and forecasting the weather, and that a man would 
burst through the bounds of this earth to outer space? 

These are the awe-inspiring new frontiers which takes 
bold, unafraid men to conquer, even as those pioneers did back 
in the 1700’s. 

Now this has happened, shrouded in great secrecy, the 
Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin was hurled briefly free of the 
earth into airlessness of space in a giant capsule and came back 
safely April 12, 1961. 

On May 5, 1961 the United States Navy Commander Alan 
B. Shepard, Jr., thirty-seven years old was hurled into space, with 
all the world listening and a free press there to report on suc¬ 
cess or failure, and returned to earth safely. Thanks to a divine 
Providence, the scientific and technical knowledge, the achieve¬ 
ment of a free people and to this exceptional young man Ameri¬ 
ca is proud. 

Carolyn White Williams 


viii 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, GEORGIA 
Introduction 

The original appointee to compile the history of Greene 
county resigned after waiting a year to consider the matter. 
This necessarily caused delay in completing the task. In addi¬ 
tion to this, Greene County failed to make any appropriation 
to cover the cost of assembling materials, furnishing station¬ 
ery, typing, or paying for any part of the cost of writing a 
history, therefore, the substitute historian has drawn on his 
meager funds in order to record as much information as he 
could assemble pertaining to the history of the County of 
Greene. What he has recorded, and what he may yet record, 
will in all probability never be published in book form, how¬ 
ever, it will be filed with the Department of Archives and 
History, and will be available to all who care to consult, 
criticise, denounce, praise, “cuss,” or otherwise denounce its 
author. 

With the assistance and hearty co-operation of the State’s 
efficient, courteous head of the Department of Archives and 
History, Miss Ruth Blair, Greene County’s historian has been 
able to compile much of the history of the eleventh county 
created by the Georgia Legislature. 

Unfortunately, little of the County’s history has ever been 
written. It is true that most of the Georgia historians have de¬ 
voted a few brief pages to it’s activities in the long ago; but 
most of them copied what others had written, and with the 
exception of Dr. Lucien Lamar Knight’s “Georgia’s Land¬ 
marks, Memorials and Legends,” they are practically all the 
same. 

In assembling information for the county’s history, the 
following sources of information have been studied: Watkins, 
Digest of Georgia Laws from it’s establishment as a British 
Province down to the year 1800, and other Digests of Georgia 
Laws. Many of the Acts recorded have to do with the creation, 
changes of the original county lines, the Indians, the people, 


IX 


and the progress of the county. In addition to this, the minutes 
of the Superior and Inferior Courts of the county, the records 
in the office of the Clerk of the Court, the minutes of the var¬ 
ious church Conferences (especially the Baptist churches), 
diaries kept by Thomas Stocks 1818 to 1832. County newspaper 
files, and every other available source of reliable information. 
In addition to all of this, Miss Ruth Blair has sent copies of all 
records in her office pertaining to Greene County including: 
Indian affairs, military and civil affairs, rosters of soldiers and 
officers of all military organizations from the time the country 
was created, to and including the World Wars, letters from the 
various governors to military officers who had to wrestle with 
Indian problems, and much other interesting information. 

Some tradition has been recorded as tradition, and some 
of the chapters contain side-lights that will not destroy the 
historical value but add to the local interest. The author has 
lived in Greene County for more than forty years, and his vari- 
ious activities have brought him in close personal contact not 
only with those now living, but practically all of those who 
were on the scene of action forty years ago. He has always been 
one of those inquisitive “cusses” who wanted to know the whys 
and wherefores for everything, and his friends say that, he 
never forgets anything that he has seen or heard. 

There have been some 700 pages of typewritten material 
assembled to date, and it is hoped that the work can be com¬ 
pleted during the year 1933. 

The assistant historians are as follows: Miss Maude 
Townsend, Miss Abbie Goodwin, Miss Helen Kilpatrick, Mrs. 
Harold Lamb, and Mrs. T. B. Rice. These were asked to get 
information pertaining to their immediate communities, and 
their materials have not been assembled yet, however I am 
sure they have gotten together a good deal of information. 
This will have to be scanned and culled, and probably most of 
it will have to be rewritten. 

There are to be three centennial celebrations in Greene 
County during the month of May; two of them are at White 
Plains. One is the one hundredth anniversary of the White 


Plains Methodist Church, and the other is the one hundredth 
anniversary of the White Plains school. The latter wll be a 
home-coming day for all who have attended this school. 

On May twenty-seventh, Mercer University will celebrate 
it’s Centennial at old Penfield, which is located about six miles 
from Greensboro. There will probably be more than one thou¬ 
sand people to attend this celebration. This being a Baptist 
College, of course will make it largely a Baptist meeting, how¬ 
ever, there will be many from all denominations. 

Greene County’s historian has been asked to act as chair¬ 
man of the committee on entertainment, and is now busy gath¬ 
ering up the threads of his organization and preparing to see 
that none go away hungry. A description of these gatherings 
will become a part of Greene County’s History. 

T. B. Rice 


Note: 

I have tried to assemble in readable form the many versions of the 
same stories, and the thousands of pages of data which were accumu¬ 
lated over the years and changed from time to time. I know there will 
be those who wonder why many things were put in or left out, so to 
those I ask you to check the data of Dr. Rice’s that I took over a 
year to read and sort and you will find the Herculean task which I 
tried to do, and found almost impossible. Remember what Carlyle 
said: “If a book comes from the heart it will contrive to reach other 
hearts. All art and authorcraft are of small account to that”. 


—Carolyn White Williams (Mrs. C. C. Williams) 


xi 



Map of Greene County, Georgia, the eleventh county created. 1786. 


s 


XI) 
























FOREWORD 


Having been second choice in the matter of writing the 
history of Greene County; and having no reputation either 
as a writer or historian; and being a rank outsider, that is, not 
a native of Georgia, I undertook the task with fear and tremb¬ 
ling. However, as I had passed the imaginary deadline of use¬ 
fulness 65 years of age, and needing some hobby as a pastime to 
keep me busy, Judge James B. Park, Judge of the Ocmulgee 
Circuit, urged me to undertake the task of writing the history of 
the only county created in the year 1786, and named for Gener¬ 
al Nathaniel Greene ere he died. 

My appointment was hailed with joy by my friend W. H. 
M. Weaver, now deceased, who lent me much encouragement 
by way of books and records that had been gathered by his 
ancestors and himself, Then, too, Miss Ruth Blair, then State 
Historian and Archivist for Georgia, somehow, seemed to 
think the making of a historian lay in me; and she rendered 
most valuable help so long as she was in office, and her in¬ 
terest in my work has never ceased. Her successor, Mrs. J. E. 
Hays, has also been helpful; but most of my material had been 
gathered ere she assumed the office. My interest caused me 
to search the records of Greene County; and the minute books 
of both the Inferior and Superior Courts have revealed much 
that has never appeared in any history. I have also found the 
minute books of old churches very revealing as well as inter¬ 
esting. These sources together with the very brief accounts of 
Greene County given by Adiel Sherwood, George White, A. B. 
Longstreet, Rev. George Smith, Gilmer and other early his¬ 
torians, have been helpful; and so have Dr. Lucian Lamar 
Knight’s “Landmarks, Memorials and Legends,” Robinson’s, 
“History of the Georgia,” Baptist Association, and Ragsdale’s 
“Story of Georgia Baptists.” Judge Garnett Andrew’s “Mem¬ 
ories of an Oldtime Georgia Lawyer,” reveals much as to the 
character of early settlers. 

Old newspaper files have enabled me to reconstruct many 
scenes of the long ago; but none have been so prolific as the 
old files of the Augusta Chronicle, however, The Milledgeville 

xiii 


and Athens papers tell of events that can be found nowhere 
else. In addition to all of these, it was my good fortune to know 
and contact both men and women whose knowledge extended 
far back into the distant past; and from them I have gathered 
much. 

Both letter and personal visits from countless people whose 
ancestors once lived in Greene, and my desire to help them, has 
revealed many things that otherwise, I would never have found. 
And, in this way, many friendships have been established, and 
perhaps, many of them will read my book. 

One peculiar thing about many of the inquiries about the 
ancestors of those who now live in distant cities is, that they 
try to picture their ancestral roof-tree as mansions with Doric 
or Corinthian columns in a setting of great trees and surround¬ 
ed by formal gardens and dusky slaves to do their bidding. 
This may have been true in a few instances; but prior to 1820, 
the average home, in Greene County, consisted of a two-room 
log house with wide, open veranda between. There may have 
been one or more “lean-tos” at the back of the house, and may 
be, log kitchen and dining room in the back yard. If there were 
several half-grown boys in the family, there was, very proba¬ 
bly, a large log, single room house just back of the kitchen, 
and known as “the boys room.” The main dwelling was known 
as the “Big House,” by the darkies. Practically all of these 
pioneers were farmers; and the average landlord owned 287 
acres of land and about a dozen slaves counting children. 
The nabob’s owned five and ten thousand acres with slaves in 
proportion; and most of them had fine homes, for that day, 
but they constituted the minority. However, between 1820 and 
1860, many of the small land-slave owners became rich for 
that period, and many of them built imposing homes, sent 
their sons and daughters to college, and imitated so far as 
possible, the homes and living conditions of their more well-to- 
do neighbors. Perhaps, the Early family set the pace for Greene 
County’s early settlers, Joel Early, father of the Governor, is 
said to have owned the finest home north of Savannah, “Early 
Manor,” near Scull Shoals. It is said that he required his sons 
and daughters to don evening dress each day for 6 o’clock 


XIV 


dinner; and that his house furnishings were imported from 
London and Paris. However, the Early’s were the exception, 
and if you would know the contents of the homes of the aver¬ 
age pioneer just read their wills that are on file in the Ordi¬ 
nary’s office, things, rather than money constituted the wealth 
of our forefathers; and administrators and executors made in¬ 
ventories of them from the best piece of household furniture to 
the smallest medicine phial; nor was it taboo to list “my large 
copper still, peach brandy and fermenting kegs.” 

If you wish to take a peep into their homes and see what 
they had, how they lived, and what their amusements were; 
read A. B. Longstreet’s “Georgia Scenes.” If you would know 
of their home-life, manner of speech, their courtship and mar¬ 
riages; read Richard Malcomb Johnston’s “Dukesborough 
Tales,” and some half-dozen other books that tell of the people 
of Greene and Hancock counties; and if you would know of 
their religious customs, prejudice against vanity and worldly 
show; read Judge Garnett Andrew’s “Memories of An Old- 
time Georgia Lawyer;” and, if you would glimpse the distin¬ 
guished men and women who lived and wrought, and who the 
leaders of thought and action were from the year 1800 to 
1870, read William H. Sparks’ “Memories of Fifty Years.” 
All of these men once lived in Greene County; and what they 
wrote has been the key that unlocked the past for this inex¬ 
perienced historian. 


T. B. Rice 


XV 






GEORGIA 


Georgia, was the youngest of the thirteen colonies, she 
had the Spanish to the south, the French to the west and the 
Indians on the frontiers, she was truly a land of pioneers and 
fighters, and in the wars of 1776, 1812 and 1861 her soil was 
the ground of decisive movements, unrest, duels and personal 
s truggles. 

After a hundred years we find the tidewater region and 
parts of the upland rich in a comfort and culture as much like 
those of England and Virginia as children are like their par¬ 
ents. 


In Savannah there were delightful homes such as the 
Richardson House built in 1815, a Georgian masterpiece. In 
Augusta there was the famous Richmond Academy. Far back 
from the “big road” were spacious and charming homes, where 
moonlight shone on old gardens and candle light gleamed on 
old mahogany and where pretty girls sang to the melodeon the 
latest songs from Byron and Tom Moore, and there they danced 
the minuet. 

Also one hundred years ago there were more log houses 
than any other. It was not until 1804 that the Indians were 
moved west of the Ocmulgee River. In May of 1836 the Creeks 
were pushed beyond the Chattahoochee River. The Cherokees 
were not sent to lands beyond the Mississippi until 1837. Until 
that time the head of the family carried his gun into the pew 
when he attended church, so real was the danger of a sudden 
attack by the Indians. 

Up to 1830 Georgia was largely a story of migrations; 
first the English colonists with a mixture of Salzburgers and 
Scotch Highlanders; then the Virginians poured in just before 
and just after the Revolutionary War; then the South and 
North Carolinians of Scotch and Irish strain; there were trick- 
lings of New England school teachers and traders and finally 
the native Georgians forging into their states’ vast woodlands 
to conquer neW frontiers. 


You cannot imagine now, the hardships and perils those 
pioneers endured. They were hoping, daring, achieving and were 
happy doing it. They built traditions into those log houses and 
made character for their commonwealth. They earned their 
bread in the sweat of their brow and laid the foundations of 
power and a beauty with their primitive and quaint ways. They 
were child-like in their faith in God and there was no so¬ 
phistication in these pioneers. They had the power to laugh, to 
wonder, to be generous, to be courageous in the face of dan¬ 
ger, to keep a stubborn faith and they believed in doing things 
yourself instead of depending on someone else. They had the 
capacity to make decisions, a passion for freedom, and here 
we are reminded of what Emerson said, “For what avail the 
plough or sail or land or life, if Freedom fail,” 

Gentlemen often settled a political or personal grievance 
with sword, pistol or fists. Gen. John Floyd, a frontier hero, 
and an Indian fighter of 1812, is reputed to have fought a 
duel with a fellow, Hopkins, of Camden County in which the 
weapons were to be first, shot guns, if neither fell each was 
to advance ten paces and fire with horse pistols, and should 
both survive they were to close in and grapple with bowie 
knives. People were brave, hearty and sometimes rough but 
they were also neighborly, hospitable and intensely interested 
in politics. They took their religion fervently and their horse- 
racing with gusto. 

From the masters’ of the big plantations and from the 
pioneering ranks came more leaders than at any period in 
Georgia’s history. William H. Crawford, Sec. of the Treas. 
under Pres. Monroe, and also an Ambassador to Napoleon’s 
France; John Forsyth Sec. of State under Pres. Jackson; John 
M. Berrien for two years Pres. Jackson’s Attorney General; 
James M. Wayne associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. 
After these came Alexander Stephens, Robert Toombs, Ben¬ 
jamin Harvey Hill, Howell Cobb, Thos. R. R. Cobb, George 
Foster Pierce, Joseph Henry Fumpkin, Herchel V. Johnson, 
Benjamin Hawkins, Archibald Bulloch, J. A. Treutlen, George 
Walton, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, Peter Early, William 
Few, Abraham Baldwin, G. M. Troup and a man named Craw- 

xviii 



ford Long, who gave the world a miracle against pain and 
death, called ether. 

Seventeen years before Robert Fulton launched his Cler¬ 
mont on the Hudson river, William Longstreet of Augusta 
was making an engine of his own on the Savannah. Soon steam¬ 
boats were carrying cotton on Georgia rivers. In 1819, the 
“Savannah,” pioneer of ocean going steamships made her voy¬ 
age to Liverpool. 

Four years after the first steam locomotive in America 
the Georgia railroad was chartered in 1833, followed by the 
Central of Ga. and the Western and Atlantic. The latter spon¬ 
sored by Alexander Stephens then only 24 years old and a rep¬ 
resentative from Taliferro County. 

Industries came slowly in this agricultural state. In 1810 
the state granted Zachariah Sims of Greene Co. a loan to aid 
him in settling up a paper mill. In 1833 Mark Anthony Coop¬ 
er built a cotton mill on Little River near Eatonton. Henry 
Stevens pioneered in ceramics, but most people farmed and 
had few or no slaves. 

Alexander Stephens and Daniel Chandler championed a 
bill for female education in 1836 which eventuated in what we 
know as Wesleyan College, the first to confer degrees on wom¬ 
en. That same year Emory College was started in a wilderness, 
then Mercer at Penfield, and Oglethorpe at Milledgeville. The 
University of Georgia sent forth leaders making history for 
all Georgia. All of these came in a decade as well as the in¬ 
stitution for the mentally ill, the school for the deaf and the 
blind. The State Library was opened and the Ga. Historical 
Society was started. 

Do we now prove worthy of that great frontier heritage? 
Traditions are not things to hold us back but should urge 
us to go forward. The frontier of today is just as great as it 
was then. To mention a few; education, better teachers and 
better paid teachers, road improving, providing better health 
programs and educational facilities, especially for superior stu¬ 
dents and unlimited space discoveries. 


XIX 


Our ancestors were not afraid to experiment nor were they 
self-satisfied, they believed the way to hold fast to what was 
good was to make it better. May all of us prove worthy of these 
hardy pioneers who opened the way for us. 

Do you know Georgia? It is an interesting state. It has 
weathered many storms and survived ordeals that tried the 
souls of her men and women. Her delegates who signed the 
Declaration of Independence, were: Button Gwinnett, Lyman 
Hall and George Walton, for each of whom a Georgia county 
is named. 

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River, 
and is the twentieth state in the Union in area, with 58,876 
square miles. 

The first steamboat to cross the Atlantic sailed from 
Savannah, May 24, 1819. 

The first long distance telephone was established in 1880 
between Trion and Rome. 

The first machine for manufacturing ice was made in Co¬ 
lumbus in 1844. 

The first motion picture to which admission was charged 
was Atlanta, 1895. 

The first chartered state university in the United States 
was the University of Georgia, January 27, 1785. 

The first chartered woman’s college and first college to 
grant degrees to women was Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga. 

Oldest boy’s high school with continuous operation in the 
United States is Richmond Academy, Augusta. 

The Largest and best equipped infantry school in the 
world is Fort Benning, near Columbus. 

Founder of the National Congress of Parents and teach¬ 
ers was Alice McLellan Birney, born in Marietta in 1858. 

The first to use ether as an anesthetic was Dr. Crawford 
W. Long, at Jefferson in 1842. 


XX 


The Bethesda Orphans Home was the first orphanage and 
it was established at Savannah in 1741. 

The first Girl Scouts of America was organized in Savan¬ 
nah in 1912. 

The first Sunday School in the world was organized by 
John Wesley of Savannah in 1736. 

Poppy Day was originated by Miss Moina Michael of 
Athens in 1918. 

The first Garden Club in America was organized in Ath¬ 
ens in 1891. 

This was the first state to establish an agricultural experi¬ 
ment station. 

Georgia has the largest forest area, 23, 750,000 acres. 

Georgia is first in production of peaches, watermelons, 
peanuts, pimentos, pecans, sweet potatoes and bees. 

The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald in the 
Blue Ridge of the Appalachains, 4,784 feet above sea level. 

The “Golden Isles” off the Georgia coast stretch from 
the Savannah River to the St. Mary’s River. 

Georgia is the largest producer of kaolin and china clays. 
It’s marble and granite is of the nation’s finest. 

The State motto is: Wisdom, Justice and Moderation. 
The state flower is the wild Cherokee rose, the state bird is 
the brown thrasher. Georgia’s star on the blue field of the 
United States flag is the fourth from the upper left-hand 
corner, as she was the fourth state to ratify the United States 
Constitution in 1787. 

Georgia was one of the eleven seceding states which form¬ 
ed the southern Confederacy. She gave her men, food and 
supplies to sustain Gen. Lee’s legions during the fratricidal 
strife of the 1860’s. From the ashes of war she finally arose 
like the proverbial phoenix and became a commonwealth of 

confident forward looking people now facing the nuclear age 
fraught with wonders and dangers. 

C. Williams 


XXI 

































. 






















CONTENTS 


Note: To have completely indexed each name appearing in this book would 
have required 100 pages additional, which the limited budget did not per¬ 
mit. The content listed here is complete and all lists of names are arranged 
alphabetically or in chronological order. 


CHAPTER I 


Before Greene County Was Formed _ 1 

White Men Move In _;_’ ' ___ 4 

Treaty at Shoulderbone With the Creeks __ 5 

Before the Territory of Greene County Was Set Apart ___ 8 

CHAPTER II 

Greene County Organized _ 12 

Nathaniel Greene _ 14 

Settlements ___”_ 16 

Map of Georgia in 1732 _ 23 

Greene County Indian Mounds _ 25 

Ancient Letters with Spanish Governor of East Florida ____ 28 

The Georgia-Tennessee Line Surveyed _ _ _ 31 

CHAPTER III 

Greene County’s Early Settlers _ 34 

Census _ 50 

Census in 1859 _ 51 

Greene County Census Takers 1810 _ 51 

Census by County _ 52 

Town Hall Meeting _ 52 

Free Persons of Colour_ 57 

Greene County People in the 1790’s _ 59 

Record of the Inferior Court _ 60 

CHAPTER IV 

Villages, Postoffices, Roads and Railroads _ 63 

Park’s Bridge _ 63 

Woodville _ 64 

Richland Creek _ 65 

Cawthorn _ 65 

Greshamville _ 65 

Ruth .. .. _ 65 

Richland Farm _ 66 

Wrayswood _ 66 

Grantville _ 66 

Daniel’s Spring ___ 67 

Shoulderbone Creek _._ 67 

Rock Landing _ 67 

Public Square _._ 67 

Union Point _ 68 


xxiii 

























































Siloam _ 70 

Liberty _ 70 

Scull Shoals _- 70 

White PlainZZZZZIZZZZZZZ"- 71 

Jefferson Hall _ 72 

Penfield _ 72 

Greensboro Formed Three Years Before George 

Washington Became President _ 74 

Greensboro’s First Postoffice _ 76 

Greensboro’s Old Postoffice Cabinet _ 80 

News Items of More Than 100 Years Ago_ 82 

Courthouse _ 85 

Greene’s First Railroad and Roads_ 86 

Boats on the Oconee _ 90 

Greene County’s First Roads ___ 94 

The Old Three-Chopt Road West_ 97 

Historic Highway No. 15 _ 99 

Highways of 100 Years Ago_ 102 

CHAPTER V 

Churches _-_104 

Bethany Presbyterian _._104 

Liberty Chapel Methodist _:___107 

Shiloh Baptist _108 

New Hope Baptist _:__108 

Baird’s Baptist _108 

Scull Shoals Baptist _109 

Falling Creek Baptist _109 

Richland Creek Baptist _1_109 

White Plains Baptist _109 

Fort Creek Baptist _110 

Shoulderbone Baptist _ 110 

Powelton Baptist _...___110 

Greensboro Baptist _ 111 

Smyrna (Siloam) Baptist _1113 

Friendship Baptist _ 1113 

Union Point Methodist _113 

New Siloam _113 

Siloam Presbyterian _ 113 

Penfield Baptist ____...........__......_ 113 

Macedonia . ... _ 113 

Union Point Baptist _113 

Veazey Baptist _ 115 

Woodville Baptist _115 

Greensboro Second Baptist _:_115 

Goshen .... _ 115 

Phillips Mill Baptist_ 117 

Greensboro Presbyterian _____ v ___ 117 

Union Meeting House ___;_ 117 

Greensboro Methodist _120 

Bethesda Baptist _ „„120 

Episcopal of the Redeemer _______ 120 

Catholic Church __________ 121 

Salem Methodist ____._____ " _Zl 22 

Hastings Methodist _...ZZZ .122 

Wesleyan Methodist _ ; _____’’_ ■ 1 9.9 

Oakland Presbyterian _ 199 


XXIV 











































































Penfield Presbyterian _122 

Bishop Andrew and the Schism in the Methodist Church _122 

Mell’s Kingdom _123 

Our City of the Dead _127 

The Oliver Porter Cemetery _;_132 

Churchyard at Bethesda Baptist Church _133 

Landmarks and Legends _135 


CHAPTER VI 


Growth _ 

Early Manufacturers _ 

Cotton Gins _ 

Georgia’s First Paper Mill _ 

Greene County Industries _ 

Pistol Factory at Greensboro _ 

Other Minor Factories _ 

The First Cotton Bagging _ 

Gold in Greene County, 1854 _ 

Templeton Reid’s Coinage Attacked _ 

First Record of Davis and Barber Clocks_ 

Early Newspapers ___ 

Greensboro’s Hotels and Taverns _ 

The Doherty Hotel _ 1 _ 

Strain-Stratham Hotel _ 

Doctors _ 

Practicing Medicine Long Ago _ 

Hog Killing, 1845 _-_ 

Corn Shuckings _ 

Neighbors _ 

Slaves ___ 

Peace and Plenty, 1820-1860 _ 

Clouds Gather _ 

Recreation and Clubs _ 

Second July 4th Celebration _ 

White Plains Independence Day _ 

St. Marino Lodge No. 34 _ 

Memorial to Anderson Terrell _ 

Recreations and Amusements _ 

Garden Club _--- 

Greensboro Fair Association _ 

First Fair at Union Point _ 


_140 

_144 

_144 

_145 

_148 

_150 

_151 

_151 

_154 

_156 

_158 

_160 

_161 

_162 

_163 

_166 

__168 

_173 

_174 

_174 

_175 

_177 

_181 

_184 

___187 

_188 

_191 

_194 

_195 

_196 

_196 

_199 


CHAPTER VII 


Chestnuts and Rabbit Tobacco - 

First Schools - 

The Poor School Fund- 

How the Poor Fund Was Administered_ 

Greensboro Female Academy - 

William H. Seward, Teacher - 

Other Schools _ 

Colored Schools --- 

History of White Plains School - 

The Buildings _ 

Traditions _ 

A Long Forgotten Benefactor of Poor Children - 

University of Georgia Lands - 


_202 

_204 

_206 

_209 

_ 211 

_214 

_219 

_ 220 

_221 

_223 

_226 

_230 

..232 

_234 


XXV 












































































Selling Off the College Lands _235 

Mercer _ 238 

How a Christian School Was Financed by a Jew-253 

Mercer at the Close of The War, 1865 -255 

New Mercer at Macon _256 

Key to the Map of Penfield _._256 


CHAPTER VIII 

Historic Homes _262 

Thornton House _265 

Oak Hill _-_266 

Neeson House _267 

Lindsey-Durham Place _268 

Davis Residence ___268 

Jefferson Hall _ 270 

Paradise Hill _ 272 

Park Home _272 

Hawthorne Heights _274 

Cunningham Home _276 

Radford-Nicholas Home _276 

Merritt Home, Other Old Homes _276 

Chappel Home _278 

Dr. John E. Walker Home _278 

Davis-Evans Home _280 

Copeland-Evans Home _280 

CHAPTER IX 

Personages _281 

Waddell, Moses _ ..281 

Wilde, Richard Henry _281 

Davis, Charles Alfred _282 

Copeland, Edward A. _283 

Weaver, Benjamin _284 

Stocks, Judge Thomas _284 

Clark, Elijah -286 

Early, Joel ---288 

Early, Peter _290 

Dale, Samuel _ 291 

Grier, (Greer) Thomas _296 

Park, James Billingslea _296 

Pierce, Bishop George Foster _298 

Kilpatrick _ 300 

Fauche, Jonas _~ 302 

Mercer, Rev. Jesse _!!~304 

The Clark-Mercer Legend _™ 3 10 

Mercer at Penfield ___ tff i i 

Poullain, Dr. Thomas N. _~ 312 

Porter, Oliver _ aia 

Janes, Dr. Thomas Gresham _ 314 

Nisbet, Judge Eugenius and Others _” ’ 1314 

Cummings, Rev. Dr. Francis _ 315 

Grier, Robert _ J 1 _ 316 

Carter, Artist P. P. __ _ _ 

Fitzpatrick, Benjamin _ 317 

Clayton, Phillip _~ ~ 310 

Williams, James Cranston and Sons _! _ 319 

Rice* Thaddeus Brockett, Maymie Bowen Rice _ _ [_ 320 


XXVI 



















































































T. B. Rice’s Grandfather_^_ 324 

Cobb and Dawson, Two Noted Senators of U. S. _325 

Thornton, Redmon _326 

Walker, Dr. John E. ___327 

Saunders, Julius _323 

Redd and Other Prominent Families _328 

Jackson Day Dinner _329 

A Greensboro Row _332 

Origin of Feud Between John Clark and William Crawford _334 

CHAPTER X 

Facts About Greene County and Greensboro _339 

Greensboro, 1786-1860 _ 343 

David Love and Love’s Spring _349 

Greensboro As I Knew It _353 

Herald-Journal _356 

1873, Herald-Journal _ 359 

1880-1940, Greensboro As Rice Knew It „_360 

Mural in the Postoffice _368 

Greensboro’s First Waterworks _370 

1890—Greensboro _ 374 

How Greensboro and the County Appeared to a Traveler in 1839 _ 375 

The 100,000 Class, (1941) _380 

CHAPTER XI 

Section I 

Wars and Soldiers, 1783-1835 _ 382 

Muster Roll of Dragoons _ 384 

Military Records, 1783-1815 _388 

Greene County, Indian War, 1836 _388 

Revolutionary War, 1775-1781 _389 

Revolutionary Soldiers ___389 

Revolutionary Soldiers Who Died Here _396 

Greene County Honors the Memory of Heroes _ 397 

Section II 

War Between the States _399 

Enrollment of Militia Co. District 146-47 _403 

Greene Rifles — Phillips Legion ____ r _404 

Stephens Light Guards, Co. 1 , 8 th Ga. Reg. 1861 _405 

Muster Roll of the 17th Ga. Militia _407 

Military Records — 1867-65, Reg .G. M. Hdq. 16th Ga. 

Brigade July 26, 1861 _409 

Confederate Soldiers Buried at Penfield _413 

Sherman’s Raiders _414 

Patriotic Women _415 

Jefferson Davis Currency _418 

The Confederate Note _ 419 

Confederate Half Dollar _420 

Confederate Coinage _420 

The Last Silver Dollar of Confederacy-423 

Section III 

Reconstruction _ _ _423 

CHAPTER XII 

Laws, Courts, Banks and Duels _430 

Courts and Law _432 

xxvii 






























































Inferior Court Records 1861 -437 

Practice of Law and Physics _438 

Slave Owners _438 

When War Clouds Hovered Over Greene _442 

Judge Samuel Sibley _443 

Constitutional Convention, 1789 _444 

Constitutional Convention of Ga__445 

Constitutional Convention of 1788 _i_446 

Historical Tid-Bits Gleaned from Old Records _447 

First Filibustering in Ga. _452 

Courthouse Burned _ 453 

Duels _ 453 

When Forgery Was Punishable by Death _454 

Banks, 1857 _456 

Stores and Banks _..459 

CHAPTER XIII 

Dixiana _463 

The Old Outhouse _ v _463 

Georgia Hospitality in 1790 _464 

Short Paragraphs From Old Newspapers _469 

President Jefferson Davis at Parks’ Mill _472 

Cracker’s Neck _475 

“Lingerlonger” in Cracker’s Neck _478 

Stories of Cracker’s Neck _479 

Judge Garnett Andrews Memories of Old Bethesda Church _484 

Gen. Andrew Jackson Visits Greensboro _490 

CHAPTER XIV 

Greene County Marriage Records, 1786-1873 _494-632 

CHAPTER XV 

Officers of Greene County _633 

Justices of Peace — 1799-1829 _635 

Grand Jurors, 1790 _642 

County Surveyors, 1786-1914 _ 642 

Treasurers, 1786-1914 _ 642 

Clerks of Superior Court, 1790-1920 _ fi4g 

Court of Ordinary, 1799-1924 __643 

Coroners _~"~643 

Sheriffs _.”"..643 

Tax Collectors _ 644 

Justices of Inferior Court, 1785-1868 _ J 645 

Judges of Superior Court, 1807-1960 _[ _ 646 

Bibliography -...-~~ 647-648 


xxviii 






















































ILLUSTRATIONS 


Thaddeus Brockett Rice _ ii 

Map of Greene County_ xii 

How Georgia Looked in 1732 _ 22 

Mural in the Postoffice_ 79 

Courthouse in Greensboro _ 84 

Last Legal Ducking in Georgia _433 

The Town of Penfield _257 

Salem Baptist Church 
Indian Fort on the Oconee 

Samuel Dale _292 

William Seward 

Bishop George Foster Pierce 

William H. Kilpatrick 

William Heard Kilpatrick, Jr. _299 

Thomas Stocks 
Billington Sanders 
Mrs. Billington Sanders 

Rev. Jesse Mercer _303 

Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus B. Rice _ .321 

Judge James B. Park 
James Cranston Williams 
William C. Dawson 

Louisa M. Alcott _318 

Greensboro Methodist Church 
Powelton Baptist 
White Plains Methodist 

Marker at Powelton Church _119 

Walker’s Methodist Church 
Greensboro Presbyterian 

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro 

Old Union Church _116 

Macedonia Church 
Woodville Baptist 
Greensboro First Baptist 

Greensboro Second Baptist ___114 

Bethesda Baptist Church 
Liberty Methodist 
Bethany Presbyterian 

Shiloh Baptist _105 

Mercer Chapel 
Penfield Presbyterian 
Ciceronian Hall, Mercer 

Penfield Cemetery _239 


xxix 
























Charles A. Davis Home 
Jefferson Hall, before restoration, 

Jefferson Hall, after restoration _269 

Williams Home 
Old Vincent House 
Cunningham Home 

Radford Home _277 

Thomas Stocks Institute 

Greensboro Female College _213 

Hawthorne Heights 
Cunningham Home 
T. B. Rice Home 

P. F. Merritt Home _275 

James B. Park Home 

Room Where Jefferson Davis Slept _273 

Siloam Baptist Church 
Union Point Methodist 
New Siloam Methodist 

Siloam Presbyterian _ 112 

Old Rock Jail 
Paradise Hall 
Thornton House 

Ruins of Thos. P. Janes Home _ 271 

Thomas Greer and Lititia Greer _295 

Davis-Evans House 

Copeland-Evans House _jj_ r .279 

Old Cromer House 

Judge James B. Park Jr. Home 

Redmon Thornton Home 

Building of Mercer at Penfield _264 


XXX 




















HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ERRATA 


Page No. 

Printed 

Correct 

26 

(3rd Par., Line 4) 

Byar 

Dyar 

63 


Veazy 

Veazey 

65 


Caw thorn 

Cawthon 

69 


Jernagin 

Jernigan 

77 

The clipping referred to with reference to the mural in the 
Greensboro Post Office was missing from Dr. Rice’s file. See 


pages 368-370. 



86 


Gwn (Allison) 

Gwyn 

92 

(Peter Early, 

Gov. Ga.) 

1818-1815 

1812-1815 

96 


Ezekeil (Park) 

Ezekiel 

106, 

315, 352 

Cummings (Rev. 

Cummins 



Dr. Francis) 


119 

Picture lower right 

White Plains 

White Plains 


Methodist Church 

BAPTIST 

143 

Ducking picture referred to is shown on Page No. 433 

152 

5th Par. 

1837 

1936 


(Mrs. Park died in 

1936, and Mrs. Lewis in 

1955) 

167 


Stapper (Dr. J. A.) 

Stapler 

194 


J. L. Calloway 

J. S. Callaway 

222 


McWhorther (B. F.) 

McWhorter 

190 and 222 

McGibboney (T. H.) 

McGibony 

276 

(11th line) 

new 

next 

276, 

277 and 280 

Copeland (E. A.) 

Copelan 

280 


basetent 

basement 

280 

(Copelan-Evans 

home) 

one floor 

two floors 

301 


Wlliiam (Kilpatrick) 

William 

328 and 361 

Tolbert (J. E.) 

Torbert 

340 


Robenson (Philip) 

Robinson 

341 


Yoraba 

Yoruba 

347 

(Dawson home) 

Standing in Greensboro 

1936. Demolished 


and modern brick dwelling built on lot by owner, Mrs. C. L. 


Rhodes. 



356 


Arnold (Copelan, 

Armor 



Seals 8c) 


372 


Fister (Miss Julia) 

Foster 

375 


Buice (DeForest) 

Byce 

375 


Torning 

morning 

381 


Stevens (Alexander 

Stephens 



Hamilton) 


415 

Quoting Edmond Burke—insert “who” after the word “He”— 
Should read “He who will not look into the past . . . etc.” 

478-79 “Miss .... Davison.” Insert in blank “Pearl.” (M. 2-19-1903) 









Chapter I 

BEFORE GREENE COUNTY WAS FORMED 

The Colony of Georgia was founded on the 12th of Feb¬ 
ruary 1733. The Battle of Bloody Marsh was fought on July 
7,1742. From the establishment of the Colony of Georgia until 
the time of the Revolution, Savannah was the seat of govern¬ 
ment; and, during this time Georgia’s Chief-Magistrates were 
as follows: James Oglethorpe, William Stephens, and Henry 
Parker. Governors of the Colony; John Reynolds, Henry Ellis, 
and Sir. James Wright. Governors of the Province; James Ha¬ 
bersham, who was Governor ad interim while Sir James Wright 
was absent in England, on the eve of the Revolution; Archibald 
Bulloch and Button Gwinett, Presidents of the Executive- 
Council, or Provisional Governors, and John A. Treutlin, 
the first Governor of the State, under the Constitution. (1777- 
78) 

A Spanish coin slightly larger and thinner than a U. S. 
quarter dollar, was ploughed up in a field about three miles 
north of Greensboro on the farm of Mrs. C. E. Monfort. The 
lettering around the court of arms reads: Hispania Rex. 1718. 
The reverse side shows: Phillip-vs v* d* g*. The Spanish court 
of arms is mounted with the Crown. Just under the crown near 
the top of the court of arms on the left, is the letter R, and on 
the opposite or right hand side, is the letter S. 

Similar Spanish coins have been found in Greene County 
at Dover and other sites of old Indian Villages in the north¬ 
west section of the County. Some historians contend that 
these coin« were spent among the Cherokee Indians by De 
Soto’s soldiers while they were searching for gold in Georgia. 
Other objects of Spanish origin have been found in the same 
sections, and it is a reasonable conclusion, that De Soto’s men 
traded them to the Indians as they passed through. His line 
of march was from Silver Bluff, South Carolina, where he 
landed, across the Savannah river and through the Cherokee 
country to the gold region of northeast Georgia. It is said that 
he despoiled some of the tribes and drove them into Florida. 
Some contend that a remnant of both Creeks and Cherokees 


1 


2 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


were driven to Alachua, Florida and formed a nucleous of the 
Seminole tribe that still exists in that State. Others contend, 
that the word Seminole means renegade, and that the Semi¬ 
nole Indians of Florida, sprang from the renegades of the Cher¬ 
okee and Creek tribes that went from this section. 

The existence of village sites and mounds on the Oconee 
river attest the fact that Indians, other than the Creeks had 
lived here. 

Probably the earliest record was written by a ranger as¬ 
signed to General Oglethorpe’s party, when he was making a 
tour into the Indian country in 1739 to establish friendly re¬ 
lations between the English and the natives. About 1777 Wil¬ 
liam E. Bartram, botanist and explorer wrote of the Great 
Buffalo Lick in Greene county. 

It is believed by archeologists that these burial mounds on 
the Oconee, pre-date the journey of De Soto in 1540. These 
mound-builders also fortified their villages and cultivated the 
nearby fields for possibly 150 years. Perhaps the powerful 
Creeks came in around 1540-1600, from the West, to occupy 
these lands along the rivers, and here they traded with the 
English in Carolina. 

Each tribe had its chief or Mico, who was subordinate 
to the chief of the Confederacy or Nation. A General Assembly 
of the chiefs met in May in the principal village to consider 
all matters of importance. Indians who had broken the law 
suffered without murmer the beatings or death meted out to 
them for punishment. 

Milfort described an Indian village of the Creeks as fol¬ 
lows : In each village was a public square and in each angle of 
the square were three cabins of different sizes, making twelve 
in all. Each cabin held from 40 to 60 persons and they were 
built close together. The chief’s cabin was first in rank and 
faced the rising sun. At one side was a great cabin where 
general meetings were held. The old men lived in the three 
cabins facing the setting sun, symbolic of their waning years. In 
the public square were the obelisk pole, the slave posts where 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


3 


captives were bound and tortured, and the chunke (ball) 
grounds. 

The Creeks were tall and robust with regular features. 
Their skin was reddish brown copper, with coarse black hair. 
The women were rather short but well formed. Before they 
began trading with the Europeans they wore scanty clothing 
made of skins. They wore moccasins in the winter and went 
barefoot in the summer. The head bands were decorated with 
beads and feathers and worn on special occasions. 

The women wore a short skirt from waist to knees and 
a diagonal cloak thrown over one shoulder leaving the other 
one bare. Before a woman married she wore her hair long, 
hanging down her back but after marriage she arranged her 
hair in a neat knot on the nape of her neck. 

Both sexes were tattooed. The children went naked until 
about fourteen years old. Later the Indians adopted the white 
settlers manner of dress. 

The Creek Indians were a proud, haughty race, brave in 
war, ambitious of conquest, restless, hospitable to strangers 
and generous to the vanquished tribes. They were good trap¬ 
pers, hunters and builders, but would rather fight than farm. 

The Creek’s religion centered around the sun as a symbol 
of power and a Great Spirit, also maize, animals and fire. The 
swift and strong eagle was revered by the Creeks. They be¬ 
lieved in immortality of the soul and placed in the graves of 
their dead, articles to be used in the next world. (Milfort) 

Along the Oconee and Ogeechee rivers the Indians lived, 
hunted and fished. Their graceful canoes would split the shin¬ 
ing waters on these rivers as they sought fresh hunting and 
fishing grounds or went to war. 

The Englishmen at Savannah made a treaty with the 
lower Creeks, and gained lands along the coast in 1733. Two 
years later the fort at Frederica was built below the mouth 
of the Altamaha river. In 1739 the leaders of the three tribes, 
Creeks, Chickasaws and Cherokees met with the Englishmen at 


4 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


the new town of Augusta. It was agreed for the English only, 
to settle the south side of the Savannah river. 

For thirty years the Creeks and Cherokees along the 
Oconee were unmolested because' the English had their hands 
full with the Spaniards on the south and the French and In¬ 
dians in the north. So the English settlements grew slowly 
until 1769-70 when white men began to follow the fur traders 
west of Augusta. 

In 1773 the Indian chiefs were called to Augusta and there 
they reluctantly signed a treaty ceding two million acres of land 
to Georgia as settlements for debts owed by them to the mer¬ 
chants of the State. 


WHITE MEN MOVE IN 

The lands ceded by the Indians in 1773 cornered in the 
headwaters of the Ogeechee at Great Buffalo Lick about twen¬ 
ty-five miles from the mounds on the Oconee river. A party 
of surveyors, hunters, Indian guides, astronomers and land spec¬ 
ulators met at the Lick to lay out the boundaries of the ceded 
lands. 

When the Revolutionary War was over the soldiers were 
offered free land in Georgia. Settlements grew rapidly. In 
four years the land ceded in the treaty of 1773 was formed 
into Wilkes County and settled. 

In 1783 Georgia called upon the Indians to give up lands 
lying between Wilkes County and the east bank of the Oconee. 
Such a treaty was signed, but the Creek leaders were aroused, 
saying that only two out of a hundred chiefs were present and 
the treaty was invalid. The second treaty was worse, they said, 
and that six of their tribe were carried to Augusta as hostages. 
Now, while Georgia and the Indians were haggling over their 
treaties, the Georgia legislature created Washington County 
and Franklin County out of these ceded lands. 

A stream of settlers from Virginia and a group of Scotch- 
Irish Presbyterians from N. C. settled on the forks of the upper 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


5 


Ogeechee river and called their settlement Bethany. The rich 
red lands on the east side of the Oconee above and below the 
upper shoals were soon taken up. (Scull Shoals) This was the 
first settlement in what later became Greene County. (Feb. 3, 
1786) 

TREATY AT SHOULDERBONE WITH THE CREEK 
INDIANS IN 1786 

When the Shoulderbone Treaty was signed by the Creek 
Indians on the 3rd day of November 1786 by John Habersham, 
Abraham Ravolt, J. Clements, James McNeil, John King, 
James Powell, Ferdinand O’Neal, and Jared Irwin on part 
of the State of Georgia, and sixty (60) Chiefs of the Creek 
Nation including Opohethle Mico King of the Tallesses, there 
was at least some hope of peace with the troublesome Creeks 
along the Oconee river, and settlers began clearing lands and 
building homes in the new County of Greene. 

The Creeks had violated the Treaty that they had enter¬ 
ed into at Galphinton on the 12th day of November 1785 and 
their acts of hostility were fully discussed before entering into 
the new Treaty at Shoulderbone. The Commissioners insisted 
on full restitution of all property taken from the white citi¬ 
zens who were living in the territory that had been ceded by 
them, and in addition, the Creeks agreed to deliver as many of 
their Warriors to be put to death, as citizens they had murder¬ 
ed since the Treaty of 1785 was signed. The exact number to 
be delivered is somewhat hazy, the agreement reads as follows: 
“First, The Indians for themselves and the rest of the kings, 
head men and warriors of the Creek nation, do promise and 
engage that six of their people who were of the parties that 
murdered the same number (say six) of the white inhabitants 
last spring shall be put to death in a manner satisfactory to the 
person or persons whom his honor the Governor or Commission¬ 
ers may send to see it done. And that the white people who 
were the means of the said murders being committed shall be 
removed from the nation without delay.” 


6 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


As further proof that the Creek Indians were not sincere 
in the treaty obligations that they had assumed, they again vio¬ 
lated their agreement by crossing the Oconee river on May 29, 
1787 and killed and scalped two men, captured one Negro and 
stole fourteen horses. They were followed by the militia and 
twelve of their number were killed. Their chiefs and leaders 
pretended to the Governor and Commissioners that those who 
were killed were innocent of the atrocities that occurred on May 
29th, as they belonged to the lower towns, while the guilty ones 
belonged to the upper towns. This gave the Indians a pretext 
to claim that they had been wronged by the whites and they 
demanded that as many whites be turned over to them, as had 
been killed of their people. Of course the Governor refused 
to acceed to their demands as he knew that in reality, this was a 
retaliation for the six warriors that had been put to death under 
the terms of the Shoulderbone Treaty of the year before. How¬ 
ever, the Creeks were determined to get even, and deliberately 
planned the massacre that took place in 1787 when Greensboro 
was burned and 31 citizens killed and twenty wounded, and a 
number taken prisoner. This convinced the Governor and the 
people of Georgia that powder and lead afforded the citizens 
better protection from the treacherous Creeks than all of the 
Treaties that had ever been, or ever would be signed by them. 

The white people referred to as living among the Indians 
and were “the means of said murders being committed” and 
whom the Indians promised to remove from the nation without 
delay, would naturally bring up the question, who were they? 
A careful study of the “marvelous development” of Wilkes and 
Columbia counties referred to by Judge George Walton in his 
charge to the jury when the first Court was held in the new 
County of Wilkes, will enable the reader to surmise who some 
of these renegades were. And the fact that his court’s first 
cases had to do with atrocities committed by Tories upon the 
helpless women and children of that section while their fathers 
and brothers were away from home fighting for the liberty of 
the American people and against the tyranny of Great Britain, 
would indicate that the Tories were as mean as the Indians 
and no doubt incited them to many cruelties upon the defense- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


7 


less people of that section. The Court record of Wilkes 
county shows, that in spite of the fact that five out of the first 
eight Tories tried and convicted were recommended to mercy, 
the feeling against them was so great that eight of them were 
hanged* 

This convinced the Wilkes county Tories that it was no 
longer healthy for them to reside in that section, so many of 
them sought fellowship among the Indians who had been their 
allies throughout the Revolution. The territory that is now 
Greene county lay too close to Wilkes to be a safe refuge for 
them, as they knew the prowess of Elijah Clark, Micajah Wil- 
liamsom, and other noted patriots of that section. So many of 
them cast their lot among the Creek Indians south of the 
Oconee river. 

These Tories were among the first settlers who came 
pouring into the new territory that was opened up for settle¬ 
ment by the Treaty that was signed at Augusta in 1773. This 
territory was known as “the Ceded Lands North of the Oge- 
chee river” and includes all of what was originally Wilkes 
county. That part of Greene that lies North of the Ogeechee 
river, was a part of Wilkes. The Athens branch of the Georgia 
Railroad from Union Point to Bairdstown pretty well defines 
that part of the original Wilkes county line, and the little 
branch that runs just back of the stores at Union Point and 
winds its way down to the Taliaferro county line just below 
old Bethany church marks that portion of the original line 
between Greene and Wilkes. Some of the Wilkes county Tories 
had bought land in that part of Wilkes that was added to 
Greene by an Act of the Georgia Legislature dated December 
1, 1802. 

The hostility of these Tories toward the victorious Ameri¬ 
cans was intensified by the contempt in which they were held 
after the close of the Revolution. The feeling against them is 
clearly shown by the trial of some of their number during 
Wilkes county’s first Court. And as their titles to the land 
they had acquired, came through the “Court of Land Com¬ 
missioners” who had been appointed by Colonial Governor 
James Wright, who was himself a Loyalist to the British 


8 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Crown, it was an easy matter to declare their title worthless. 
The time honored custom that, “to the victor belongs the 
spoils” enabled the good old County of Wilkes to rid herself 
of all the Tories she could not hang legally. Some of them had 
married into the families of the sons of Liberty and were not 
so rampant in their views, and took no part in the guerilla 
war-fare that was carried on by the renegades and Indians. 
This class probably had a “change of heart” after Cornwallis 
surrendered, and were tolerated on account of their marriage 
and outward appearance. But the fact that they were Tories, 
and did not cast their lot with those who fought and died for 
American Independence, has made it impossible for their des- 
cendents to join the D.A.R.’s. 

Those who had taken an active part in the cowardly at- 
tacts on the defenseless, knew that the hangman’s noose await¬ 
ed, and fled among the Creek Indians who were the most 
numerous and hostile to the white settlers. These are the 
white men whom the Creeks promised to expel from their na¬ 
tion under the Shoulderbone Treaty. And there is but little 
doubt as to their being responsible for many of the Indian 
raids in the new County of Greene, two of which were describ¬ 
ed in Governor Mathews letters to Congress in 1787. 

I will try to show what effect Governor Mathews order 
to send 3,000 troops had on the “perfidious” Creeks. 

BEFORE THE TERRITORY NOW KNOWN AS 
GREENE COUNTY WAS SET APART. 

When the counties of Franklin and Washington were 
created by an Act of the Georgia Legislature at Savannah, Ga., 
on the twenty-fifth day of Feb., 1784, all of that territory that 
lies north of the Oconee river and its branches, had been sur¬ 
rendered to the State of Georgia under Treaty duly signed by 
the Chiefs of the Cherokee and Creek Indians at Augusta, and 
the Indians agreed to vacate the territory ceded under Treaty. 

This opened up a rich and vast territory for white set¬ 
tlers. And in order to make it safe, it was necessary to estab¬ 
lish some form of local government and law enforcement, 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


9 


therefore, the counties of Franklin and Washington were creat¬ 
ed to include all of the Ceded territory. 

Washington county orginally included all of what is now 
Greene, and a large part of what is now Oconee county. Frank¬ 
lin included all of the Ceded territory north and northwest of 
Washington, and included the northwest corner of South Caro¬ 
lina. This infringment on South Carolina’s territory was due to 
an error in establishing the boundary north of where the Tuga- 
lo and Keowee (Seneca) form the Savannah river. The survey¬ 
ors followed the Keowee instead of the Tugalo thinking it was 
the larger of the two streams. This brought on a dispute be¬ 
tween Georgia and South Carolina, and the matter was not 
settled until 1797, when it was amicably adjusted by what is 
known as the Treaty of Beaufort. 

The counties of Franklin and Washington were opened 
up to settlers in 1784. The language of the Act creating these 
new counties reads as follows: And be it further enacted by the 
authority aforesaid, that every citizen of this State, who shall 
come with an intent to settle and form an actual residence in 
this State, shall be entitled to a warrant of survey for any 
quantity of unlocated lands within the aforesaid counties in 
manner afore-mentioned, so as the same shall not exceed one 
thousand acres to any one person whatsoever: Provided that 
such person has not already taken up his, her, or their rights, 
agreeable to an act for opening the land office, passed the 
seventeenth of February, one thousand seven hundred and eigh¬ 
ty-three : And shall pay the fees of office at the time of apply¬ 
ing for such warrant or warrants.” (Watkin’s Digest, page 
291). 

Item VI. same Act reads: “And be it further enacted by 
the authority aforesaid, That he, she, or they so applying shall 
pay for each and every acre granted as aforesaid, the sum of 
three shillings in gold or silver, that is to say Mexican or Span¬ 
ish milled dollars at four shillings and eight-pence each, and 
half Johannes’s at thirty-seven shillings and four-pence each, 
and all other coins at the same rate in proportion, the one 
moiety to be paid in two years from the date of the warrant, 
and the other moiety at the expiration of three years,” etc. 


10 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Item XI. same Act reads: “And be it further enacted by 
the authority aforesaid, that all the lands between the north 
and south fork of the Oconee up to the present temporary line 
be reserved the term of twelve months for the officers, seamen 
and soldiers who are entitled to land in this State by any re¬ 
solve of Congress or act or resolve of this State; refugees and 
other military excepted: And that the same lands according 
to the proportion allowed to such officers, seamen, or soldiers 
and entitled to the same, be fully, freely, and absolutely grant¬ 
ed to them, and their heirs and assigns forever, on application 
for that purpose without any restriction or incumberance (office 
fees exempted) or necessary qualification in regard to cultiva¬ 
tion, any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstand¬ 
ing: Provided such officers, soldiers or seamen shall not by 
virtue of this bounty take the land in any other part of the 
aforesaid counties.” 

Item XI. Has no special reference to Greene county, as 
the lands reserved for officers, seamen and soldiers were locat¬ 
ed above Athens in Franklin county. 

The opening up of the land of Franklin and Washington 
counties, brought an influx of people from the Carolinas and 
Virginia. The first settlement in what is now Greene county, 
was in the Bethany neighborhood. As early as 1784 we find 
emigrants from North Carolina settled around Bethany, which 
lies in the fork of the Ogeechee river. These early settlers 
were Presbyterians and of Scotch-Irish descent. The Rev. Jones 
Edmonds from Charleston was the first Presbyterian minister 
who preached in the new settlement. There was no house of wor¬ 
ship and the services were held in the house of Thomas Baldwin, 
about one mile east of the present church building. 

The Rev. Daniel Thatcher from North Carolina and a 
member of the Presbytery of Orange, came to Georgia as a 
missionary in 1785 and settled in the Bethany neighborhood. 
The next year 1786, he organized Bethany church and preach¬ 
ed for two years, twice a month. 

Note: I am indebted to the late Professor W. E. Reynolds 
for this bit of information about Bethany. Professor Reynolds 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


11 


was reared in that neighborhood, and was a member of Beth¬ 
any church for many years. He wrote a history of Bethany 
church for its Centenniel in 1886 and read it to the hosts that 
had gathered for the occasion. 


Chapter II 


GREENE COUNTY ORGANIZED 

Here in northeast Georgia on Feb. 3, 1786 the county of 
Greene was organized after being cut from Washington County. 

The county was named for that illustrious Revolutionary 
General, Nathaniel Greene, who lived only a few months after 
this honor was given him. In the same act the legislature located 
the county seat and named it Greensboro for General Greene. It 
was incorporated in 1803. The county is 22 miles long, 17 miles 
wide and contains 374 square miles. 

The rivers are the Ogeechee, Apalachee and Oconee. The 
smaller streams are Beaver Dam, Towns, Richland and Shoul- 
derbone which rises in Greene Co. 

White’s Statistics of Ga. mentions early settlers as: Jonas 
Fauche, Wm. Heard, S. M. Devereaux, Isaac Stocks, Joseph 
Heard, John Pinkerd, John Harrison, Samuel B. Harris, John 
Young, Josiah McDonald, Charles Watts, Joseph White, 
George Reid, Major Porter and others. 

Settlers came in from Virginia, the Carolinas, a few from 
the northeast and Europe seeking fortunes and getting these 
fertile lands. There was little sophistication among these pio¬ 
neers but most were sturdy, virile and easy to anger. For the 
first few weeks no order had been established and each man had 
to protect himself and his family. They were not only menaced 
hv the Indians and the Tories but by outlaws and criminals who 
had escaped justice and were seeking refuge. 

As soon as an act was passed naming Justices, they met and 
marked out militia districts and nominated two Justices for 
each one. A date was set for the first election, where the voting 
would take place, and same was advertised. After this the first 
jurors and grand jurors were drawn from a box, by the Sheriff 
and the Clerk. 

The same act that created Greene County authorized the 
building of the “Union Academy” and the “Union Meeting 


12 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


13 


House”. These were built on the hill near the cemetery and 
served the religious and educational purposes of the new county 
for several years. A huge tract of land had been set aside for a 
State University, and most of this was in Greene County, the 
Richland Survey, Shoulderbone, Falling Creek and Fishing 
Creek. The first Commissioners of the county were: David 
Gresham, 'William Greer, Thomas Harris, William Fitzpatrick, 
and Robert Greer. 

Greene County is bounded by these counties; on the north, 
by Clark and Oglethorpe, east by Taliferro, south by Hancock 
and Putnam and east by Morgan and Oconee. 

The illimitable possibilities for the development of these 
fertile lands were enough to inspire the imagination of all ad¬ 
venturous spirits, besides those who came to amass fortunes. 
For those who desired adventure, there were the Creeks across 
the Oconee River or the Spaniards in Florida. 

Many Revolutionary soldiers drew “head rights” grants 
here. They were tax free for ten years and contained 250 acres 
while taxable grants called for 287^4 acres. These warrants 
were issued upon application at the Land Office and the holder 
could select any land in the county, provided it had not already 
been entered by someone else. It was surveyed and a plat made 
of it, which was recorded in a plat book by the Surveyor, show¬ 
ing the owners name, creek or river on which it bordered and 
the name of the adjoining land owner. This was signed by the 
Surveyor and became a permanent record in the office of the 
Clerk of the Superior Court. Many Revolutionary soldiers set¬ 
tled here and made good citizens and there are many descend¬ 
ants of theirs still here. 

The Virginians who came in were more interested in educa¬ 
tion than the native Georgians and Carolinians, and they became 
the leaders in the county. 

In 1845 there were 4,515 whites and 7,458 blacks in Greene 
County. This county has cradled many illustrous men, among 
them: U. S. Senators, Cobb and Dawson, eight members of Con¬ 
gress: Early, Cobb, Nisbet, Dawson, Haraldson, Alford, 


14 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Thomas and Nathaniel Foster, two Bishops; Pierce and Andrew. 
Judges of the Supreme Court, Nisbet and Lewis, Gov. Peter 
Early, Augustus B. Longstreet, Thomas Cobb, Hiram Cone, 
Wm. Crosby Dawson, Phillip B. Robinson, John Collier Hart, 
Hugh G. Lewis, James B. Park, and Samuel Sibley. 


NATHANIEL GREENE 

Greene County was named for Gen. Nathaniel Greene of 
Revolutionary fame while General Greene was still living at 
Mulberry Grove. The county was formed in 1786 and Gen. 
Greene died in 1786. (four months later) 

Gen. Greene was born at Warwick, N. J. on May 27, 1742 
the son of a Quaker preacher. He died June 19, 1786. His an¬ 
cestors came from England to America when Charles was King. 

He grew up and studied Latin, Mathematics and other 
metaphysics and became commander of the local troops. In 1774 
he married beautiful Catherine Littlefield, and 1775 at 33 years 
old he joined the regular army at Cambridge and there he met 
General George Washington and they became lifelong friends. 
In Dec. 1776 Greene crossed the Delaware and commanded the 
left wing at Trenton and Princeton. He fought valiantly at 
Brandywine and Germantown, and at Monmouth he turned de¬ 
feat into victory. He had the sad duty of hanging the spy Gen. 
Andre for negotiating with Benedict Arnold. 

When Gates was defeated at Camden, S. C. Gen. Washing¬ 
ton sent Gen. Greene south and he put new life into the forces. 
He had brilliant Marion, Sumter, and Pickens to help him de¬ 
feat the British. 

Georgia honored him by giving him a plantation at Mul¬ 
berry Grove near Savannah, so named for the mulberry trees 
planted there to provide food for the silkworms when the 13th 
colony tried to grow silk. Now it was a rice plantation. 

Gen. Anthony Wayne lived farther up the river at Rich¬ 
mond at Kew plantation, which Georgia gave him for valiant 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


15 


services. The rumor got around that Mad Anthony Wayne was 
in love with General Greene’s wife, the lovely, high-spirited 
Catherine Littlefield Greene of Block Island. 

It is said that Wayne became a frequent visitor to Mul¬ 
berry Grove and his attentions to Catherine became so apparent 
that Gen. Greene was going to the Anthony home on June 12, 
1786 to see Gen. Wayne. While he was at the plantation of a 
friend, William Gibbons he suffered a fatal stroke. He was only 
44 years old. He was buried with high military honors in Savan¬ 
nah’s old Colonial cemetery. One hundred years later his re¬ 
mains were removed to Johnson Square where they lie beneath 
the imposing mounment in his honor. 

Mad Anthony Wayne was sent by Gen. George Washing¬ 
ton to the far northwest, on some mission. 

Gen. Greene left five children who were being tutored by 
a Yale graduate named, Phineas Miller, who also helped Mrs. 
Greene manage her large plantation, and ten years later they 
were married. 

It was Catherine Greene who met Eli Whitney when he 
came to Georgia to tutor, and when he arrived the position had 
been filled. She invited him to Mulberry Grove and it was here 
that he invented the first cotton gin in 1793. This was an event 
of far reaching importance as it made possible the growing of 
millions of acres of cotton, caused a great increase in slavery, 
produced cotton crops worth hundreds of millions of dollars 
which were exported to England, France, Germany, Russia and 
other European countries giving the U. S. A. an enormous bal¬ 
ance of trade and greatly enriched this country. 

This great development from a single crop resulted in 
social and industrial revolutions and led to the bloody civil war 
of 1861. 

But for the existence of the cotton crop slavery would have 
ceased to exist, but the profitable employment of Negroes on 
the cotton plantations between 1800 to 1860 caused an immense 
increase in slave labor, and enriched the large planters. Slavery 


16 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


had been opposed in the beginning when the Trustees of Georgia 
forbade its introduction into this state. Benjamin Franklin sought 
to end it by insertion of a paragraph in the National Constitu¬ 
tion which would have provided that negroes after a certain 
date would be born free, but he failed. 

General Greene also had a home on Cumberland Island 
named Dungeness which had thirty rooms. The Greene family 
lost Mulberry Grove because of debts incurred by the Gen¬ 
eral to furnish army provisions for his men during the war. 

When Gen. George Washington visited Augusta and Savan¬ 
nah in May of 1791, it is said ,that at a magnificient ball given 
in his honor that he danced with Catherine Greene for four 
hours. 

In 1814 Catherine L. Greene Miller died at fifty-nine years 
of age, still charming, brilliant and active. Her daughter Louisa 
Greene, (Mrs. James Shaw )inherited Dungeness. Another 
daughter, Martha Washington Greene married John Clark 
Nightingale. 

It was here on March 25, 1818 that Light Horse Harry 
Lee, father of the great and noble Robert E. Lee died, and was 
buried. Later his body and that of his son, General Lee were 
placed in a crypt at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. 

In 1893 Thomas Morrison Carnegie acquired this Dung- 
ness property on Cumberland Island. 


SETTLEMENTS 

It is difficult to trace the other settlements that sprang 
into existence shortly after Bethany was established. However, 
it is known that the rich lands along the Oconee as high up as 
Scull Shoals were taken up while this territory was still Wash¬ 
ington county. And it is more than probable many sections of 
what is now Greene county was settled as early as 1784 and 
1785. This conclusion is justified by the fact, that, the Legisla¬ 
ture saw fit to organize a new county out of the northern part 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


17 


of Washington and the southern part of Franklin. This new 
county was created on the third day of February 1786, and 
named Greene, in honor of General Nathaniel Greene. The 
original territory that formed Greene, included all of the ter¬ 
ritory that lies between the Ogeechee and Oconee rivers. Also, 
the lands between the Appalachee and Oconee and as far north 
of the Oconee as Cherokee Corner ; thence, a straight line west 
from Cherokee Corner to High Shoals on the Appalachee 
river just below where Milledgeville now stands, and extended 
north-west to the Ogeechee river, and up the Ogeechee and its 
headwaters to Cherokee Corner. 

Another evidence that the territory was settled before 
Greene was created is; Immediately after the county was creat¬ 
ed, Jonas Fauche was placed in charge of military operations 
for the protections of the Whites against the Indians. He at 
once made a survey of the needs and recommended that twelve 
Forts be built at strategic points. A little later, he found that 
Isaac Stocks had already built a private Fort on his farm near 
the Oconee river some five miles south of Scull Shoals. It was 
in this Fort that Thomas Stocks was born, two days before the 
Act creating Greene county was passed. 

Possibly, the earliest description of the section that later 
became Greene County, was written by William Bartram des¬ 
cribing his travels through Georgia, about 1773, and he was 
guided by an old map of 1780 by Purcell. The following is 
quoted from Bartram’s Travels, p.57-58: 

“After four days of moderate and pleasant travleing, we 
arrived in the evening at the, “Buffalo Lick.” This extraordi¬ 
nary place occupies several acres of ground, at the foot of the 
S. E. promontory of the Great Ridge, which, as before ob¬ 
served, divides the rivers Savannah and Altamaha. A large cane 
swamp and meadows, forming an immense plain, lie S.E. from 
it; in this swamp I believe the head branches of the great Ogee¬ 
chee river take their rise. The place called the lick contains 
three or four acres, in nearly level land, and lies between the head 
of the cane swamp and the ascent of the Ridge. The earth, 


18 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


from the superficies to an unknown depth, is almost white or 
cinereous colored tenacious fattish clay, which all kinds of cat¬ 
tle lick into great caves, persuing the delicious vein. It is the 
common opinion of the inhabitants, that this clay is impregnat¬ 
ed with saline vapors, arising from fossil salts deep in the 
earth; but I could discover nothing saline in its taste, but I ima¬ 
gined an insipid sweetness. Horned cattle, horses and deer, 
are immoderately fond of it, insomuch, that their excrement, 
which almost totally covers the earth to some distance around 
this place, appears to be perfect clay; which, when dried by the 
sun and air, is almost as hard as brick.” 

*As to who these intelligent inhabitants were, Bartram does 
not explain; and if he was correct in this statement, there must 
have been white settlers along the head waters of the Ogeechee 
long before either Wilkes or Greene Counties were created. 

The writer is indebted to Colonel T. G. Macfie of Sha¬ 
ron, Ga., for the above. Col. Macfie’s letter of Nov. 29, 1934 
says: “You will have to go about a mile south of Union Point 
to get to where this expanse begins.” He also gives the three 
tests laid down by Bartram for locating this Buffalo Lick, as 
follows: 

(1) “It was on the S. E. base of the last promontory of 
the ridge of hills; and there was a flat of three or four acres 
at that spot. 

(2) It was the head waters of the Ogeechee (an old map 
of 1770 by Purcell published with Bulletin No.73 of the Bur- 
reau of Ethnology shows it on the second or third branch of 
the Ogeechee). 

(3) A great cane swamp and meadows extends Southeast 
from it.” 

Colonel Macfie has made a personal investigation of the 
location, and is convinced, that Bartram’s “Great Buffalo 
Lick” was on the north side of the Ogeechee, and about one 
mile below Union Point. 

The presence of intelligent inhabitants who gave Bartram 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


19 


the scientific explanation of the presence of “fossil salts deep 
in the earth” may account for William Greer, William Daniel, 
Thomas Baldwin and other prominent men settling in the Bet¬ 
hany neighborhood when Washington County was laid out in 
1784. Bethany is very near the place described as the “great 
Buffalo Lick,” and intelligent neighbors were highly desirable. 

Colonel Macfie’s letter caused the writer to read Wil¬ 
liam Bartram’s Travels closely; and, he has reached the con¬ 
clusion that the “Great Buffalo Lick” was near where Union 
Point is now located. Bartram’s reason for visiting this section 
can best be told in his own words, which are accurately quoted 
here: 

“A few days after our arrival at Augusta (in the spring 
of 1773), the chiefs and warriors of the Creeks and Cherokees 
being arrived, the Congress and the business of the treaty came 
on, and the negotiations continued undetermined many days; 
the merchants of Georgia demanding at least two millions of 
acres of land from the Indians, and a discharge of their debts, 
due, and long standing; the Creeks, on the other hand, being 
a powerful and proud spirited people, their young warriors 
were unwilling to submit to so large a demand, and their con¬ 
duct evidently betrayed a disposition to dispute the ground by 
force of arms, and they could not first be brought to listen to 
reason and amicable terms, however, at length, the cool and 
deliberate counsels of the ancient venerable chiefs, enforced by 
liberal presents of suitable goods, were too powerful induce¬ 
ments for them any longer to resist, and finally prevailed. The 
treaty concluded in unanimity, peace, and good order; and the 
honorable superintendent, not forgetting his promise to me, at 
the conclusion mentioned my business, and recommended me 
to the protection of the Indian chiefs and warriors. The pre¬ 
sents being distributed among the Indians, they departed, re¬ 
turning home to their towns. A company of surveyors were 
appointed by the governor and council, to ascertain the bound- 
eries of the new purchase; they were to be attended by chiefs 
of the Indians, selected and delegated by their countrymen, to 
assist, and be witnesses that the articles of the treaty were ful¬ 
filled, as agreed by both parties in Congress.” 


20 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“The preparatory business of the surveyors being now ac¬ 
complished Mr. J. McIntosh, yet anxious for traveling, and 
desirous to accompany me on this tour, joined with me the cara¬ 
van, consisting of surveyors, astronomers, artisans, chain-bear¬ 
ers, markers, guides, and hunters, besides, a very respectable 
number of gentlemen, who joined us, in order to speculate in 
lands, together with ten or twelve Indians, altogether to the 
number of eighty or ninety men, all or most of us well mounted 
on horseback, besides twenty or thirty pack-horses, loaded with 
provisions, tents, and camp equipment.” 

“The summer season now rapidly advancing, the air at 
mid-day, about this region, was insufferably hot and sultry. 
'We set off from Augusta, early in the morning for the Great 
Buffalo Lick on the Great Ridge, which separates the waters 
of the Savannah and Altamaha, about eighty miles distant from 
Augusta. At this Buffalo Lick the surveyors were to separate 
themselves, and form three companies, to proceed on different 
routes. On the evening of the second day’s journey, we arrived 
at a small village of Little River, a branch of the Savannah, 
this village called Wrightsborough, was founded by Jos. Mat¬ 
tox, esq. of the sect called Quakers. This public spirited man 
having obtained for himself and his followers a district, com¬ 
prehending upwards of forty thousand acres of land, gave the 
town this name, in honor of Sir Wright, then governor of 
Georgia, who greatly promoted the settlement.” 

“After four days of moderate and pleasant traveling, we 
arrived in the evening at Buffalo Lick.” A full description of 
the location of this Lick, was fully described at the beginning 
of this article. Bartram goes on to say that, “We were detained 
at this place one day, in adjusting and planning the several 
branches of the survey. A circumstance occurred during this 
time, which was a remarkable instance of Indian sagacity and 
nearly disconcerted all our plans, and put an end to the busi¬ 
ness. The surveyor having fixed his compass on the staff, and 
being about to ascertain the course from our place of departure, 
which was to strike the Savannah at the confluence of a certain 
river, miles distant from us; just as he had determined upon 
the point, the Indian chief came up, and observing the course 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 21 

he had fixed upon, spoke, and said it was not right; but that 
the course to the place was so and so, holding up his hand, and 
pointing.” 

“The surveyor replied, that he himself was certainly right, 
adding, that the little instrument (pointing to the compass) 
told him so, which, he said, could not err. The Indian answered, 
he knew better, and that the little wicked instrument was a liar; 
and he would not acquiesce in its decisions, since it would 
wrong the Indians out of their land. This mistake (the sur¬ 
veyor proving to be in the wrong) displeased the Indians; the 
dispute, arose to that height, that the chief and his party had 
determined to break up the business, and return the shortest 
way home, and forbade the surveyors to proceed any farther; 
however, after some delay, the complacence and prudent con¬ 
duct of the Colonel made them change their resolution; the 
Chief became reconciled upon the condition that the compass 
should be discarded, and rendered incapable of serving on this 
business; that the Chief himself should lead the survey; and 
moreover, receive an order for a very considerable quantity 
of goods.” (Bartram’s Travels) 

The survey of the ceded lands known as “The Great Pur¬ 
chase”, and which constituted the original Wilkes County, ac¬ 
tually started in what is now Greene County, at the Great Buf¬ 
falo Lick, which is just below Union Point. The treaty of 1775, 
at Augusta, and which Bartram witnessed, included the lands 
north of the Ogeechee River and its headwaters, therefore, no 
dispute could arise as to the southern boundary, as the Ogee¬ 
chee is a well defined stream up to the “Great Lick.” Bartram 
went with the surveyors who followed a northernly course, and 
who established the boundary between the Indians and whites 
as set fourth in the treaty; but his interest was only in the trees, 
shrubs, birds, insects, animals and reptiles, of which, he gave 
a most interesting account. From Bartram’s description of the 
unpleasantness that took place at the “Lick” over the use of 
the compass, it will be readily seen how near the treaty of 1775 
came to being upset. And, had the officers not used diplomacy, 
a great Indian war might have preceded the Revolution, in 
Georgia. 


How Georgia Looked U ndet,th e <Ppgi na ^ Grant of 1732 

. . I.".,:, -i-r*- 


22 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 




































HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


23 


The fact that, many of the chiefs and warriors who met 
at Augusta did not want to surrender such a vast tract of their 
lands that the traders and merchants demanded in payment of 
debts, no doubt had much to do with the Indians’ attitude to¬ 
ward the whites who bought these lands through Governor 
Wright’s Land Court. And, the bitter feelings that the Indians 
exhibited toward the whites after the Revolution was from 
the same cause. 

A MAP SHOWING HOW THE STATE OF 
GEORGIA APPEARED IN 1732 

Many changes have taken place in Georgia since the above 
map was published in 1799 both as to area and development. 
The names and spelling of many rivers have been changed; 
but eleven of the twelve towns shown in what is now Georgia 
are still in existence. The cities and towns that were of sufficient 
importance to appear on the map were, St. Marys, Brunswick, 
Sunbury, Hardwic, Savannah, Elberton, Waynesboro, George 
Town, Louisville, Augusta, Washington, and Greensburg 
(Greensboro). Elberton was a port of the Ogeechee 
River between Savannah and Waynesboro; and probably about 
where Rocky Ford is now located. With the exception of 
George Town, all of twelve towns listed are still in existence, 
and have played an important part in Georgia’s history and 
development. From 1786 to 1802, Jefferson, Washington, 
Greene, and Franklin Counties were “buffers” between Indians 
and the civilized portions of that vast territory that was known 
as Georgia; and these counties bore the brunt of the Indian 
uprisings that necessitated every able bodied man to be a sol¬ 
dier; and his trusted rifle was within easy reach both day and 
night. Forts were built along the north bank of the Oconee 
and Altamaha Rivers for the protection of settlers against 
the Indians. Compounds and forts were built in the interior 
where the women and children could be protected during up¬ 
risings. 

Greensboro was burned by the Indians in 1787; and some 
thirty citizens were killed and quite a number wounded and 
taken prisoner. Governor Mathews ordered out 3,000 troops 


24 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


to capture and punish guilty Indians, and appealed to the Pre¬ 
sident of the Congress «f the United States for soldiers and 
supplies. 

The only barrier between Greene County and Creek In¬ 
dians was the Oconee River; and as it is a small stream and 
easily crossed, Indian raids (were frequent. Elijah Clark’s 
“Trans-Oconee Republic” did not help matters in Greene 
County. In fact, it made them worse, as his outfit was composed 
largely of desperate men who were bent on acquiring land and 
power. They used every means to get Greene County men to 
join them; and when persuasion failed they used force. Some 
of those who refused to join them were whipped, and several 
were shot. The activities of the Clark forces across the Oconee 
and in what is now Morgan and Putnam Counties, were report¬ 
ed to Governor Mathews by Thomas Houghton a citizen of 
Greene County. His orginal letter is now in the files of the 
Department of Archives and History in Atlanta, and affida¬ 
vits of Greene County citizens concerning the methods used 
are also in the files. 

General Elijah Clark was a fine soldier; but his ven¬ 
ture beyond the Oconee was a great mistake, and no doubt 
had much to do with Greene County citizens opposing the 
Clark faction in politics in the 1820’s when the battle raged 
between John Clark and George M. Troup. Thomas Stocks 
a Greene County citizen, was president of the Georgia Senate 
when the joint ballot of the I louse and Senate resulted in a 
tie vote for Governor. And while John Clark was not a candi¬ 
date, his friend Mathew Talbot was; and everybody knew that 
the issue was-Clark against Troup. When it became necessary 
for the President to cast his vote and break the tie, Thomas 
Stocks cast his vote for Troup, and pandemonium broke loose 
in the old Capitol at Milledgeville. However, Clark’s friends 
in the House constituted a majority and used their voting 
power to defeat every Troup man that came before that body 
for re-election. Augustus B. Longstreet went down in defeat 
for re-election as Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit. He was a 
citizen of Greensboro at that time, and was an anti-Clark man. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


25 


The writer of this article can view the Clark family from 
an unprejudiced standpoint, as his great-great grandfather was 
a Colonel in the Revolutionary War under General Elijah 
Clark. And when Gen. Clark was stricken with smallpox he was 
placed in command and fortified and defended Augusta. After 
the British were defeated they were neighbors and friends; and 
one of his daughters married his son John Clark, who after¬ 
ward became Governor of Georgia, and were it not for the 
fact that, he is the historian for Greene County, he might 
leave the comrade and friend of his ancestor (Col. Williamson) 
entirely out of the picture. 

GREENE COUNTY’S INDIAN MOUNDS 

About 1837 the Indians were sent to the west, and although 
they had given the white people trouble, the country was theirs 
to begin with. 


THE INDIANS LAMENT 
by Christine Park Hankinson 

I must leave the Georgia valleys where the laughing waters run. 
I must leave the silent forests, 1 must find the setting sun. 

No Paleface knows the sorrow that fills the Redman's heart; 
And none shall know my soul-cry when moccasins depart. 

Perhaps, again, my arrow will find the huffalo, 

The brave may find the warpath; may vanquish hostile foe; 

But I shall still be yearning tor lovely Georgia mounds, 

And singing Georgia waters, and Georgia hunting grounds. 

The rising sun will call me, and J shall say “Farewell", 

And journey to the westward, I o the westward I must dwell. 
And none who sees me going, shall sense my soul's unrest, 
Unless, perhaps, some Paleface who, too, is moving west. 


Very few of our people are aware of the fact that we 
have a number of pre-historic mounds in Greene county; and 
very few of those who know of them have ever seen them, 
or even know where they are located. 

The Smithsonian Institute, or rather its officials are aware 
of every mound in the entire country and their exact location. 


26 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Most of us who know of their existence credit them to the In¬ 
dians who inhabited this country just prior to the Revolutionary 
War; but, the Smithsonian authorities claim that the Cherokee 
and Creek Indians were not mound builders; and their oldest 
traditions credit them as being here when these Indians came, 
therefore, we must conclude that these mounds were built by 
a race of people who preceded the Indians. 

This writer made his first inspection of one of these 
mounds yesterday. The one he visited is near the Oconee river, 
and some two miles above the bridge across the Oconee river 
on Route No. 12; and is on the land of Mr. C. H. Dyar. This 
mound is some three hundred feet in circumference, at the base, 
and some fifty feet or more in height. At the top, it is some 
twenty-five feet in diameter and somewhat concaved. It is cov¬ 
ered with trees on both sides and top. It is situated in a vast 
swamp and several hundred yards from the river. Years ago, 
there was a large pond between the mound and the river, and 
was known as “Mound Pond.” This pond was supposed to 
have been formed by the removal of the dirt to build the 
mound, and contained many fish, although, it was subject to 
overflow from the river. However, this pond has been filled 
with silt from the river, and aside from a slight depression, it 
looks like the rest of the swamp. 

Some years ago, some one made an excavation near the 
center of the top of the mound, but the fact that it was aband¬ 
oned after reaching a depth of a few feet indicates that noth¬ 
ing was found. Within the past year, Mr. Byar’s sons have 
made a considerable hole in the side of the mound about half 
way between the base and top. Their efforts were rewarded by 
some bits of broken pottery, a few shells, bones and bits of 
charred wood. Recently, an earthen pot was uncovered and 
seemed to be intact, but when removed it fell to pieces. This 
pot was some twelve inches in diameter, judging from the depres¬ 
sion made by it, and the fragments show an indistinct design. 
Among the bones, the boys found a bone needle, or a part of 
one.This needle was about half the size of a cedar pencil, was 
well pointed and made of solid bone, and a neat groove was 
cut in the side, and presumedly, this groove held the thong or 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


27 


skin that was used in sewing. The groove terminated about two 
inches from the point, but unfortunately, the other part of the 
needle was not found. The groove in this needle was evidently 
cut with a metal instrument, and reveals skilled workmanship. 

These boys must have struck the burial place of some 
great chief or leader, as the pot, bones etc. were central be¬ 
tween four upright posts that were evidently charred before 
being set up. The posts were about four feet apart, while the 
length of the grave was about eight feet. The boys did not 
dig to the bottom of the posts, therefore, it is impossible to 
estimate how far down they extended, or what is contained 
beneath. 

The four upright charred posts very probably, supported 
a canopy of some description, and poles may have been attach¬ 
ed to the sides to keep the dirt out of the grave. The dirt that 
forms the mound is not clay, but seems to be a sort of dried 
muck. This seems to have been put on in layers of some eigh¬ 
teen inches and then burned. There is a charred streak between 
each layer that seems to support this idea, and the concave 
surface on top of the mound is probably due to the giving 
away of the timbers inside and the gradual settling of dirt into 
the graves beneath. 

The burning of the various strata seems to have render¬ 
ed the mound moisture-proof; and the walls are almost as hard 
as brick, and for that reason, no one except an expert could 
hope to recover any article without crushing and thereby de¬ 
stroying its historic value. 

Just a few hundred yards from this mound, and just across 
the Oconee, there is a much smaller one. This mound is very 
near the river, and from its appearance, one would judge that 
repeated efforts had been made in the long ago to make it give 
up its secrets. Less than one mile north of this latter mound, 
on top of quite a hill, there are many evidences of a large In¬ 
dian settlement. Many perfect specimens of elaborately carved 
pipes and pottery have been found during the past fifty years, 
and a few during the past ten years. Erosion has moved many 
feet of dirt, and no doubt the present surface is eight or ten 


28 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


feet below the original surface; yet bits of pottery and arrow¬ 
heads are to be found after every rain. 

Unfortunately, these evidences of art that existed in an¬ 
other civilization have been scattered to the four winds, and 
nothing remains to tell us what these people did and thought. 
There are a few fine collections of arrow-heads, battle- axes, 
and a few pipes and other relics still in the county, but few of 
their owners, if any, can tell where they came from. Some col¬ 
lections have been built up by hiring Negroes to scour the hills 
along the Oconee after every rain therefore they cannot be 
associated with any particular locality. 

Would it not be fine to lend these treasures of the past 
to some organization that would take care of them? I think 
it would. 

Everybody cannot go to Washington and visit the Museum 
of Natural History; but, many Greene county citizens could 
learn much of the early history of this section, if the owners of 
these relics would put them in cases where they could be seem, 
and have them displayed in some safe place. Please ponder this 
suggestion. 


ANCIENT CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE 
SPANISH GOVERNOR OF 
EAST-FLORIDA 

That Greene County officials had much to do with estab¬ 
lishing, and maintaining peace with East-Florida when the 
rebellious Spanish subjects sought to form an Axis with General 
Elijah Clark and his followers, and is clearly proven by the cor¬ 
respondence between the Spanish Governor of East-Florida and 
Captain Jonas Fauche and others. 

History tells that, some ten years after the American Re¬ 
volution, Elijah Clark was given a commission as General, by 
Genet, the French General who was in charge of French inter¬ 
ests in this part of America; and that said Clark raised an 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


29 


army of U. S. citizens, without the knowledge or consent of the 
Washington Government, and corralled as many Indians as he 
could induce to join him and, together with as many of the re¬ 
bellious Florida Spaniards as he could find to join him, he 
waged war against the Florida Spaniards who were loyal to 
Spain. 

Clark’s campaign was short-lived and proved an utter 
failure; but during that period he conceived the idea for estab¬ 
lishing his “Trans-Oconee-Republic”-which also proved a fail¬ 
ure and cast a shadow over the brilliant career that he gained 
for himself as an officer in the American Revolution. 

The following is an exact copy of the English translation 
of a letter written and directed to Captains Abimeal Nichol 
and Jonas Fauche by the Governor of East-Florida as annexed 
to the Spanish original. (The letter is not dated, but Fauches’ 
reply proves that it was written on October 9 , 1795). 


THE GOVERNOR’S LETTER 


Gentlemen, 


“Captain Andrew Atkinson has inform’d me of the civilities with 
which you behand to him and good Disposition you manifested in your 
conversations towards contributing to the extermination of the pro-, 
jects of General Clark and his followers in association with the rebel¬ 
lious Subjects of the king my master, against this territory of his 
Dominions, that has been entrusted to my care—these evident proofs 
of your honorable and upright proceedings and mode of thinking; and 
those Just Shewn by his Excellency the Governor of your State, by 
commissioning you, Captain Fauche, with fifty Dragoons for that pur¬ 
pose constitutes me in the obligation, after returning to you due 
thanks, of assuring you that you may rely on my gratitude, desires of 
Serving you, and of contributing on my part to the preservation of 
that good harmony which has hitherto Subsisted in consequence of 
thei Superior orders of my court and Congress, between the Subjects 
of his Catholic majesty and the citizens of the United States upon 
this occasion, I have the honor of offering myself at your disposal 
with lively wishes of rendering you Services, and I am persuaded that 



30 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


you will continue to accede as far as your forces will permit you, to 
the prosperous issue of our mutual desires and the maintenance of the 
pacefick Disposition of the Governments of the two Powers—god pre¬ 
serve you many years.” 

(Signed) John Mepomuche de Quisada. 


Fauche’s Reply 

A letter written and addressed to the Governor of East 
Florida by Jonas Fauche— 

Sir 

“I am Just gratified with the honor of your Excellencys commu¬ 
nication of the 9th inst. and take the liberty to inform you that the 
objects of my command, from orders of his Excellency Governor 
Mathews, are to aid and assist the civil authorities of the County of 
Camden, in order to inforce the laws of this and the United States; 
particularly in preventing their neutrality to be commited; checking 
the improper conduct of our citizens in that respect, and preventing 
the citizens of the United States to afford Succor to the -revolted 
Subjects of his Catholic Magesty. My duty to my country and my 
regard for my nation with which we are at Peace, will stimulate me 
to make use of my utmost exertions in my Subordinate conjunction 
with the Majistrates of Camden County, to obtain the above objects; 
and my inclinations and love of good order, will still Strengthen 
these my Sacred obligations—bei persuaded, Sir, that it is my sincere 
belief, that one of the favorite wishes and cares of this and our 
General Governments, are to maintain the good harmony and under¬ 
standing which has Subsisted between them and his Catholic Magesty. 

I have the honor to be, 

Your Excellency’s Most humble and 
obedient Servant 
(Signed) Jonas Fauche Captain 
malitia Dragoons—” 

Saint Mary, Fort Gunn 
October 14th 1795. 


Note: Spelling, use of capitals and punctuation, are copied just as 
they were written. Captain Jonas Fauche was not only a brave 
man and splendid officer, but was a Past-Master at diplomacy. 

Forward— 


Governor George Mathews sent Captain Jonas Fauche 
on this delicate mission iust one year after the fall of Elijah 
Clark’s “Trans-Oconee-Republic.” History gives full credit to 




HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


31 


Generals Irwin and Twiggs for Clark’s undoing ,and does not 
mention Jonas Fauche. Governor Mathews knew of Fauche’s 
part in the destruction of Clark’s strongholds—Forts Advance 
and Defiance—and commissioned him to go to the Georgia- 
Florida border and straighten out the mess that Clark had 
stirred up among the revolting Spaniards. He knew that Jonas 
Fauche was capable of doing a good job and deserved recogni¬ 
tion for the prominent part he played in securing Elijah Clark’s 
bloddless surrender. Fauche was further rewarded by being 
made Georgia’s second Adjutant General. Fauche lived to see 
the Floridas—East and West Florida—become a part of the 
United States. He died in 1835. 


THE GA.-TENN. LINE. 

The northern boundary of Georgia was not fully settled 
until 1818, and a Greene county citizen was the Boundary Com¬ 
missioner for Georgia. A photostat was made from his original 
diary while engaged in establishing the line between Georgia 
and Tennessee. Thomas Stocks was Georgia’s commissioner and 
General John Coke was commissioner for Tennessee. Judge 
Stocks left Greensboro on May 5, 1818 and “set out” for Nick¬ 
ajack on horseback, and reached there on May 12th. On May 
17th the Tennessee delegation arrived, to wit: General John 
Coke, commissioner on the part of Tennessee, James S. Gaines 
mathematician, and Joseph Cobb surveyor. May 18th, Mr. 
Gaines took his first observations with the equatral Theodolite 
and made this place (Nickajack) Dr. 35-11. At 12 o’clock Mr. 
Gaines made his second observation and found this place 12 
miles south of the 35th degree, differing from his yesterdays 
observation 22 miles, in consequence of which we concluded to 
dispense with the further use of his instrument. At 40 minutes 
after 9, Mr. Camak took his first observation on Spica and Arc- 
turus. Both of which correspond with the one taken on the 19th, 
and determined this place (Nickajack) toTe about 2 miles north 
of the 35th degree. (Arcturus is not visible before May 18th) 
Mr. Camak again took observation on Arcturus on May 25th, 
and this observation made Camp Cokesouth of the 31st degree. 


32 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


They continued to “scrap” and gaze at the fixed stars 
until June 1st., and planted a rock marked on the north, 
Tennessee June 1st 1818. Variation 6 degrees east. And the 
south side Georgia, latitude 35 north. June 2nd was fair and 
they ran five miles to near “Broken Canoe.” On the 4th they 
ran 13 miles and 30 chains, and camped at the foot of Look' 
out Mountain. They rested on the 6th and took observations 
and found they were correct. 

June 7th was Sunday, and they rested from their La¬ 
bours” and visited the missionary, heard two sermons and re¬ 
turned to camp. Set out early on the morning of the 8th and 
ran 4 miles over poor level land to Chickamauga crossing 
equal distance from Goody’s and the Missionary school and 
one mile further and camped. The distance covered from the 
7th to the 10th was over a poor and broken country. On the 
10th they crossed the west branch of the Connisauga and 
camped near the home of an Indian by the name of Tom Man¬ 
ning. Here is said to be the best body of land in the Cherokee 
nation. They passed near the widow Wolff’s house, and on to 
Betsey Watkins on Hiawasse river. 

On the 18th they reached the town of Ellsciely and hired 
an Indian to pilot their horses through the mountains, nobs, 
rocks and cliffs. Mr. Camak’s horse was bitten by a snake and 
very much injured that day. On account of the loss of his horse, 
Mr. Camak was forced to leave the party and proceed to 
McTours’. His having to leave the party was much regretted 
by all. From the 18th to the 27th of June, they experienced 
many hardships on account of the almost impenetrable moun¬ 
tain country. They made a corner on the Unicoy mountains, 
called by the Indians; The Indian ford mountains. 

On a white-oak tree marking 110 miles on the west side, 
and below is marked: T. Stocks, G. C. J. C.s R. B. June 27, 
1818, on the east side 35 degrees N. Lat., H. M. About one 
pole south on a white oak is marked: J. Cocke, C. T. H. M. 
The tree marked 110 miles is about 114 inches in diameter, it 
stands on the top of the mountain which is bald, on the south 
side for some distance it encircles the head waters of Little 
river, which runs into the Hiawassee on the west side of the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


33 


Unicoy mountain. On the east side of the mountain Autialey 
runs and heads, which is Tennessee waters. This line continued 
its course, would cross the Blue Ridge in running 6 or 8 miles. 
Here we turned our course for home and encamped on Little 
river near the Chunkey Girls. 

June 28th., set out early and traveled 6 miles to John 
Stanley’s on the Unicoy road, thence on 9 miles to Charles 
Tucker’s; 9 miles to Buffington’s, 5 miles to the top of the 
Blue Ridge, thence down Spoilt-cow creek crossing it 25 or 
30 times to the main branch of the Chattahooche, 9 miles to 
Martin’s and spent the night. 29th Col., Montgomery left me 
and I proceeded on 12 miles to Walter Adams’ on Soquee and 
spent the night, having to remain there to get one of my 
horses shoes removed. This is one of the handsomest places 
I ever saw. June 30th., set out and traveled 12 miles to Col. 
Wafford’s near the falls of Toccoa. Visited the falls and re¬ 
mained the balance of the day at Col. Waff old’s. The fall is 
187 feet perpendicular. July 1st set out and traveled 20 miles 
to Carnesville to dinner, thence 10 miles to Thomas Jones 
and spent the night. July 2nd, 10 miles to Danielsville to break¬ 
fast, 22 miles to Lexington to dinner, and 20 miles home to 
supper. (From Thomas Stocks diary) 

A photostat showing the “Way bill” and points visited 
between Greensboro and Nickajack would be interesting. Also, 
a photostat of the way back from the Blue Ridge to Greensboro 
on the return trip. 


Chapter III 


GREENE COUNTY’S EARLY SETTLERS 

When Greene county was first organized in February 
1786. there were quite a number of settlers who had moved 
in, add secured land grants while this territory belonged to 
Washington counts, therefore, the names of Greene’s earliest 
settlers do not appear on the following list. Their grants were 
made to Greene county land as late as 1861, and recorded in 
Washington county. 

It will be noted that, the names, acres, location, and dates 
of entry are shown, but the Militia Districts in which the land 
is located does not. This is due to the fact that Militia Districts 
had not been laid out, and the only description shown, is with 
reference to streams. The lands of Greene county originally, 
laid along both sides of the Oconee River from near Athens to 
where the Apalachee empties into it, and then along the North 
bank to about opposite Milledgeville. It also followed the Ap¬ 
alachee river up to about where High Shoals is located, thence 
North to Cherokee Corner. The line then ran East, and is fairly 
well defined by the Athens branch of the Georgia Railroad 
from Arnoldsville in Oglethorpe county to Union Point. From 
Union Point, the county line followed the Ogeechee River East, 
to a point somewhere below Jewels Mills. Thence south-east, 
to a point on the Oconee just below Milledgeville. 

The names of many of the creeks mentioned are unknown 
in what is now Greene county, while some of them are known 
to be in Hancock and Taliaferro, therefore, it is impossible to 
determine how much of the land described is in what is now 
Greene county. It is also interesting to note, how the original 
settlers stuck to watercourses. It is also of interest to note that, 
Grants were made to Greene county land as late as 1861, and 
that the Secretary of State A. C. Barnett, certified to the cor¬ 
rectness of the following entries, at Milledgeville in June 1867, 
and under the Seal of the State of Georgia. 


34 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


35 


HEA,D RIGHTS GRANTED 

TO CITIZENS OF GREENE 

COUNTY 

Names of Grantee. 

Acres 

Location 

Year 

Armour, Andrew 

28 ?y 2 


1787 

Armour, Andrew 

100 


1787 

Abercrombie, Charles 

600 

Buffalo Creek 

1787 

Abercrombie, Charles 

230 


1787 

Abercrombie, Charles 

287 y 2 


1787 

Alford, James 

2350 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

Adams, James 

233 


1787 

A,lisen, Henry 

230 

Oconee River 

1787 

A,lisen, Henry 

230 


1787 

Alford, James 

1200 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1788 

Atkinson, Abner 

316 

Folsom’s Creek 

1788 

Anderson, John 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Anderson, Johnathan 

200 

Rocky Creek 

1788 

Alisen, Henry 

322 

Oconee River 

1789 

Adams, John 

400 

Ogeechee River 

1790 

Adams, James 

150 


1791 

Adams, James 

200 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1791 

A,bercrombie, Charles 

600 


1791 

Abercrombie, Charles 

598 


1791 

A.nderson, Benjamine 

800 

Ogeechee River 

1793 

Alexander, Bathiah 

154 

Oconee River 

1796 

Anderson, William 

77 


1796 

Autry, Absolom 

39 


1799 

Armstrong, John 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1800 

Atkinson, James 

18 


1824 

Atkinson, Lazarus 

12 


1824 

Atkins, John 

145 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1826 

Armour, William 

335^2 

Oconee River 

1840 

Borland, Andrew 

697 

Oconee & Ogeechee 

1787 

Borland, Andrew 

632 

Buffalo Creek 

1787 

Burke, Charles 

350 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1787 

Booker, Thomas 

575 

Beaverdam Creek 

1787 

Bourland, A,ndrew 

731 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

Blakey, Churchhill 

225 

Grabells Greek 

1787 

Baxter, Andrew 

680 

Oconee River 

1787 

Baxter, James 

230 


1787 

Buckhanan, John 

616 

Greenbriar & Mdl. Ck. 

1787 

Brazil, Samuel 

200 

Buffalo Creek 

1788 

Burford, William 

.943 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Borland, Andrew 

412 

Oconee River 

1788 

Bush, Thomas 

39 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1788 

Beardin, Humphrey 

222 

Oconee River 

1788 

Burford, William 

323 


1788 

Burke, Charles 

200 

Beaverdam Creek 

1788 

Booth, John, Sr. 

200 

Rocky Creek 

1788 

Bishop, William 

400 


1788 

Bishop, James 

600 

Folsoms Creek 

1788 

Bishop, Stephen 

400 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Bagby, George 

388 


1789 

Bankston, Jacob 

134 

Oconee River 

1790 

Booker, William F. 

2500 


1790 

Brantley, Thomas 

174 

Fort Creek 

1790 

Buckhalter, William 

200 

Rocky Creek 

1791 


36 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Borland, Anderson 

Barnett, Nathan 

Barron, Samuel 

Baldwin, Thomas 

Baldwin, Thomas 

Boren, James 

Barnard, William 

Bonner, Thomas 

Bonner, William 

Bellah, Samuel 

Barnett, Abraham 

Burnes, James 

Barnett, William 

Burns, James 

Baker, Jeremire 

Borland, Abraham 

Belcher, Obediah 

Billingslea, John 

Belcher, Obediah 

Booker, John 

Bowles, Jesse 

Bristoe, Chesley 

Bowden, Walton C. 3 

Bonner, John 

Curry, William 

Cock, Nathaniel 

Cockran, Abner 

Cessna, Charles 

Carter, Isiah 

Coulter, John 

Cowen, James 

Carlisle, John 

Cartwright, Peter 

Coffee, Peter 

Conner, James 

Christmas, Nathaniel 

Conner, Daniel 

Conner, James 

Couplen, Coulston 

Cane, John 

Cooper, Joseph 

Cooper, Joseph 

Cooper, Joseph 

Cato, Sterling 

Cartwright, John 

Cooper, Thomas 

Curry, Alexander 

Curry, Robert 

Castleberry, Jeremiah 

Cameron, Duncan 

Cowan, George 

Carson, Thomas 

Carter, Isiah 

Carroll, Charles 

Cain, John 

Cain, John 


Location 


Year 

1791 

Oconee River 


1793 

1794 

Ogeechee River 


1798 

1798 

Shoulderbone Creek 


1798 

Ogeechee River 


1798 

1799 

1799 

1800 

Beaverdam Creek 


1800 

Stewarts Creek 


1800 

Richland Creek 


1800 

1801 

Shoulderbone Creek 


1801 

Oconee River 


1801 

1803 

Harris Creek 


1803 

Oconee River 


1808 

1816 

1817 

Ogeechee River 


1821 

Oconee River 


1841 

Shoulderbone Creek 


1844 

1787 

1787 

Richland Creek 


1787 

1788 
1788 

Roes Creek 


1789 

1789 

1789 

Oconee River 


1789 

Ogeechee River 


1790 

Sandy Run 


1790 

Ogeechee River 


1791 

1791 

1791 

Oconee River 


1792 

Shoulderbone Creek 


1792 

Oconee R. & Town 

Creek 

1792 

Town Creek 


1792 

Oconee River 


1792 

1792 

Sandy Run 


1793 

Long Creek & Town 

Creek 

1795 

1795 

Richland Creek 


1796 

Beaverdam Creek 


1796 

Oconee River 


1786 

Ogeechee River 


1797 

Oconee River 


1786 

Fulsoms Creek 


1798 

Ogeechee River 


1800 

1806 

1807 


Acres 

468 

100 

130 

236 

200 

80 

78 

181 

300 

70 

150 

71 

100 

59 J* 

74 

436 

31^2 

229 

32 

25 

33'/ 2 

33 

2/10 

136 

230 

460 

720 

670 

130 

230 

230 

48 

630 

550 

300 

1000 

28 7y 2 

650 

196 

100 

1950 

1320 

565 

205 

200 

4000 

50 

6634 

209 

210 

1000 

150 

500 

400 

250 

175 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 37 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Chiver, Thomas 

352j/ 2 

Cato, Phillip. 

331 

Cummings, Elijah 

140^ 

Coleman, Mary 

75 

Cray, Scott 

243 

Cobb, Thomas W. 

43 2-5 

Clark, Johnson 

218 

Crawford, Thomas 

30 

Cath, William P. 

23 

Colwell, William 

306 

Clifton, Curtis 

41 

Colsby, John 

43 

Copeland, John 

9 

Copeland, John D. 

23/4 

Daniel, William 

378 

Daniel, William 

460 

Daniel, William 

556 

Daniel, Thomas 

460 

Daniel, Thomas 

460 

Daniel, William 

230 

Daniel, William 

1100 

Daniel, Edmond 

690 

Daniel, Thomas 

36 

Daniel, Thomas 

528 

Daniel, Thomas 

460 

Daniel, Thomas 

460 

Dunn, Alexander 

200 

Daniel, Edmond & William 

390 

Dunn, Simon 

122 

Daniel, Thomas 

200 

Dawson, James 

480 

Dykes, Stephen 

110 

Daniel, Wm. & John Nelms 

128 

Dickson, David 

18 3/5 

Dickson, David 

486 

Dickson, David 

658 

Davis, David 

120 

Davis, Silas M. 

200 

Davis, Allen 

186 

Downing, Thomas 

57 

Dawson, William C. 

21 

Dowing, Thomas 

6 

Ellace, Walter 

500 

Easley, Richard 

286 

Early, Joel 

600 

Early, Joel 

400 

Early, Jeremiah 

30 

Flournoy, Robert 

200 

Flournoy, Robert 

935 

Flournoy, Robert 

433 

Fitzpatrick, Rene 

200 

Fitzpatrick, Joseph 

460 

Fitzpatrick, Bouth 

487 

Flemikin, James 

350 

Flournoy, Robert 

442 

Fandley, John 

300 


Location 

Year 

1808 

1816 

1817 

1818 
1820 

Oconee River 

1823 

1824 
1828 
1829 

Ogeechee River 

1831 

1829 

1837 

1841 

1849 

Oconee River 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1786 

Beaverdam Creek 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1786 

Oconee River 

1786 

1786 

Estanaula Creek 

1788 

Buffalo Creek 

1791 

1794 

1795 

Town Creek 

1795 

1796 

North & Middle Creek 

1796 

1796 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

1811 

1825 

1827 

1829 

1829 

1829 

Nats Creek 

1794 

Beaverdam Creek 

1797 

Oconee River 

1803 

1806 

1807 

Ogeechee River 

1786 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1786 

Folsoms Creek 

1786 

Greenbriar Creek 

1786 

Greenbrier Creek 

1787 

Oconee River 

1787 

Town Creek 

1787 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

Oconee River 

1787 


38 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Flournoy, Robert 

500 

Flemikin, James 

230 

Flemikin, Samuel 

230 

Few, Ingnatius 

240 

Flournoy, Robert 

1024 

Flournoy, Robert 

539 

Flournoy, Robert 

1000 

Flournoy, Robert 

681 

Flournoy, Robert 

1766 

Flournoy, Robert 

100 

Flournoy, Robert 

90 

Flournoy, Robert 

2300 

Flournoy, Robert 

200 

Flournoy, Robert 

935 

Flournoy, Robert 

300 

Flournoy, Robert 

130 

Flournoy, Robert 

2300 

Flournoy, Robert 

432 

Flournoy, Robert 

267 

Flournoy, Robert 

291 

Flournoy, Robert 

618 

Flournoy, Robert 

17000 

Flournoy, Robert 

1000 

Flournoy, Robert 

1000 

Flournoy, Robert 

1000 

Flournoy, Robert 

333 

400 

758 

240 

290 

Fitzpatrick, Reney 

230 

F'itzpatrick, Reney 

230 

Fitzpatrick, William 

460 

Ferry, John 

211 

Ferry, John 

75 

Fisher, William 

250 

Freeman, John 

500 

Fitzpatrick, Benjamin 

315 

Fitzpatrick, Benjamin 

76Y 2 

Fitzpatrick, Benjamin 

230 

Fitzpatrick, William 

230 

Finch, George W. 

150 

Garrett, John 

622 

Garrett, John 

290 

Greer, Robert 

127 

Greer, Thomas 

460 

Greer, Thomas 

460 

Greer, William 

200 

Greer, William 

460 

Greer, William 

Greer, William 

230 

200 

Greer, William 

300 

Golson, John 

450 

Gresham, Archibald 

460 

Gresham, Archibald 

690 

Good, Thomas 

200 


Location Year 

Folsoms Creek 1787 

Greenebriar Creek 1787 

Ocbnee River 1788 

1788 

Ogeechee River 1788 

1788 

1788 

Shoulderbone Creek 1788 

Ogeechee River 1788 

Shoulderbone Creek 1788 

1788 

Oconee River 1788 

Shoulderbone Creek 1789 

1789 
1789 

1789 

1790 

Ogeechee River 1792 

1792 

Richland Creek 1792 

Log-dam Creek 1792 

Oconee River 1792 

Log-dam Creek 1792 

Ogeechee River 1794 

1794 

Ogeechee River 1794 

Shoulderbone Creek 1794 

Ogeechee River 1794 

1798 

1798 

Greenbriar Creek 1789 

Middle Creek 1789 

Greenbriar Creek 1789 

Beaverdam Creek 1789 

1789 

Richland Creek 1790 

Big Creek 1792 

Oconee River 1799 

1799 
1799 

Ellisons Creek 1799 

1845 

1786 

Greenbriar Creek 1786 

1787 
1787 
1787 

Ogeechee River 1787 

Greenbriar Creek 1787 

Oconee River 1787 

1789 

Oconee River 1793 

Island Creek 1788 

Oconee River 1789 

Greenbrier Creek 1789 

Little River 1789 


HISTORY 

OF GREENE COUNTY 

39 

Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Location 

Year 

Grabill, Henry 

200 

. .. 

1789 

Gaston, Mathew 

294 

Richland Creek 

1789 

Gann, Nathan 

230 


1789 

Grimes, Thomas 

500 

Ogeechee River 

1789 

Gathright, Miles 

183 


1790 

Graves, Humphrey 

600 


1790 

Gray, George 

200 


1793 

Gresham, James 

147 

Roes Creek 

1794 

Gilbert, Benjamin 

255 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1795 

Gearlin, James 

50 


1795 

Gray,Richard 

50 


1797 

Grier, Aaron 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1799 

George, William 

119 

Richland Creek 

1800 

Green, George 

22 

Little River 

1803 

Going, John 

11 


1807 

Gerald, James 

304 


1820 

Greer, James 

36 1-10 

Oconee River 

1820 

Greer, William, 

32 4-5 


1824 

Greer, William 

52*4 

Fishing Creek 

1824 

Gibbs, Thomas A. 

394 

Beaverdam Creek 

1826 

Harris, Thomas 

460 

Roes Creek 

1786 

Houghton, James 

230 

Oconee River 

1786 

Heard, William 

191 

Richland Creek 

1786 

Houghton, William 

230 

Richland Creek 

1786 

Harvey, Evan 

247*4 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

Houghton, Wm. & Daniel 

460 


1787 

Hogg, William 

200 


1787 

Harvey, Thomas 

1246 

Oconee River 

1787 

Hill, Abraham 

460 


1788 

Horton, Stephen 

200 

Island Creek 

1788 

Hamlin, Richard 

200 


1788 

Heard, Stephen 

688*4 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Houghton, Joshua 

62 

Beaverdam Creek 

1789 

Harris, Thomas 

400 

Richland Creek 

1790 

Haynes, Thomas 

111 


1790 

Harris, Thomas 

200 


1791 

Housley, Newed 

287*4 


1791 

Hagerty, Sarah 

200 


1791 

Harrison, Davis 

270 


1792 

Hogg, James 

110 

Beaverdam Creek 

1792 

Harvey, James 

400 


1792 

Hill, Robert 

95 


1794 

Hill, William 

200 


1795 

Hogg, Jacob 

112 


1796 

Hall, George 

66 

Powells Creek 

1798 

Harris, Thomas (Heirs of) 

460 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

Hardwick, James 

280 

Powells Creek 

1798 

Harvey, John 

200 


1798 

Harvev Michael 

350 


1798 

Hill, William 

503 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1798 

Hill, William 

163 


1799 

Hill, William 

900 


1799 

Hill, William 

250 


1799 

Harvey, James 

450 

Ogeechee River 

1799 

Hill, Joseph 

177 

Richland Creek 

1799 

Hogg, William 

156 


1800 


40 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Harper, George 
Holland, Thomas 
Holland, Thomas 
Heard, Thomas 
Heard, Thomas 
Hutchinson, Ambrose 
Harris, Wilmot E. 
Hart, Thomas 
Harris, Gilliam 
Horton, Henry M.. 
Holtzclaw, John G. 
Houghton, Henry M. 
Holtzclaw, John G. 
Johnson, William 
Jackson, Isaac 
Jackson, Isaac 
Johnson, Bartholemue 
Johnson, William 
Johnson, William 
Jones, Nathan 
Jackson, Peter 
Jackson, Joseph 
Jarrell, James 
Jones, Hugh 
Jackson, Benjamin 
Johnson, John 
Jackson, Edward 
Ivey, Elias 
Ivey, Elias 
Ivey, John 
Jackson, William 
Kilgore, John 
Kerr, Henry 
Kerr, Henry 
Kerr, Henry 
King, Alexander 
King, John 
Kimbrough, Thomas 
Kinman, David 
King, Alexander 
Livingston, Robert 
Livingston, Robert 
Livingston, Robert 
Landers, Jacob 
Landers, Abraham 
Lancaster, Levi 
Livingston, Robert 
Lancaster, William 
Lamar, Thomas 
Lee, John (Heirs of) 
Love, David 
Love, David 
Love, David 
Love, David 
Livingston, Samuel 
Lesley, David 


Location 

Year 

Fulsoms Creek 

1801 

1804 

1804 

1804 

Oconee River 

1814 

1805 

1824 

1824 

1838 

1840 

1846 

1849 

1855 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

1787 

1787 

Fishing Creek 

1787 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

1789 
1789 

Powells Creek 

1793 

1795 

1795 

1796 
1796 

Beaverdam Creek 

1798 

1800 

Stewarts Creek 

1826 

1826 

1826 

1829 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

1789 

Oconee River 

1789 

1789 

Beaverdam Creek 

1802 

Ogeechee River 

1801 

Oconee River 

1804 

1807 

Ogeecheei River 

1825 

1787 

1787 

1787 

Paces Creek 

1787 

Roes Creek 

1787 

Powells Creek 

1787 

1789 

1793 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1796 

Ogeechee River 

1799 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1801 

1801 

1801 

1801 

1821 

1838 


Acres 

200 

14 

8 

19J4 

108 

100 

60 

634 

6 

54p 2 

7 

29 

123/ 4 

150 

500 

350 

200 

280 

50 

200 

862 

43 

32J4 

126 

300 

72 

141 

674 

674 

136 

100 

536 

400 

230 

513 

240 

1000 

50 

50 

27y 2 

230 

44 

200 

230 

230 

262 

225 

55 

300 

144 

100 

50 

174 

92 

17 

12 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 41 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Location 

Year 

Middleton, Robert 

2000 


1786 

Middleton, Robert 

4440 


1786 

Maddux, William 

1093 

Lick Creek 

1788 

Maddux, William 

240 

Powells Creek 

1788 

Miller, Jhon 

100 


1788 

Moore, Jeremiah 

290 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1788 

McRoy, John 

150 


1789 

McCombs, Andrew 

200 

Oconee River 

1786 

Middleton, Holland 

250 

Ogeechee River 

1789 

Mercer, Silas 

750 


1790 

Middleton, Robert 

665 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1790 

Middleton, Robert 

994 

Ogeechee River 

1790 

McClelland, William 

284 


1792 

McGaugh, William 

395 


1792 

Miller, John 

100 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1792 

Moore, Jeremiah 

113 


1792 

McClendon, Joel 

336 


1795 

Moreland, Robert 

495 

Fort Creek 

1795 

Melton, William 

200 

Richland Creek 

1796 

McGaughey, William 

40 y 2 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1796 

McGough, John 

214 

Ogeechee River 

1797 

Mullen, Melone 

300 

Oconee River 

1798 

Mitchell, David 

100 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

McClelland, William 

225 

Mile Creek 

1798 

McCormack, Benjamin 

42 


1798 

Mapp, John 

80 


1798 

Macklin, William 

168 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1799 

Merritt, William 

710 

Apalachee River 

1800 

McCulloch, Alex & Wm. 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1800 

McGee, Patrick 

100 


1802 

McCulloch, Alexander 

100 


1803 

McCree, William 

65 


1805 

McGehee, James 

43 


1805 

Moore, James 

20 


1806 

Moore, James 

90 


1806 

McGibbony, William 

100 


1806 

Maxey, John 

68 


1813 

Murden, Malachi 

59 

Stephens Creek 

1818 

Moore, Joseph 

24 7-10 

Ogeechee River 

1819 

Moore, Mark E. 

166- 2-5 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1821 

Moore, Lemuel 

418 

Stewarts Creek 

1821 

Moncrief, Isaac 

287 

Beaverdam Creek 

1824 

Moore, Joseph 

108 


1836 

Morris, Simon 

13 

Ogeechee River 

1834 

Morris, Simon 

12y 2 


1834 

McLellan, James 

381 

Beaverdam Creek 

1846 

Newton, Richard 

200 

Beverdam Creek 

1792 

Nisbit, James 

367 

Ogeechee River 

1792 

Nelms, John 

230 

Ogeechee River 

1796 

Nelms, John 

216 

Middle Creek 

1796 

Nisbit, James 

10 

Ogeechee River 

1800 

Nelson, Perry 

184 

Ogee River 

1837 

Ogletree, John 

495 

Oconee River 

1787 

Orrick, James 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

O’Neal, Exum 

835 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Orrick, James 

15 

Ogeechee River 

1798 


42 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Location 

Year 

Owen, Philaman 

22 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

Oscar, Benjamin 

20 

Ogeechee River 

1820 

O’Neal, Mary 

372 

Ogeeche River 

1826 

Phillips, Joseph 

460 

Oconee River 

1786 

Patrick, Bouth Fiby 

487 

Ocone River 

1787 

Pritchard, John Henry 

200 

Ocone River 

1787 

Porter, Oliver 

1040 

Fishing Creek 

1787 

Phillips, William. 

200 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

Phillips, William 

460 

Oconee River 

1787 

Phillips, William 

250 

Richland Creek 

1788 

Phillips, William 

566 

Shouldrebone Creek 

1788 

Phillips, William 

227 


1789 

Philips, William 

150 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1789 

Patrick, William Fitz 

290 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1789 

Phillips, William 

100 


1788 

Phillips, Joseph 

575 


1789 

Phillips, William 

300 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1790 

Parker, Richard 

516 

Powells Creek 

1791 

Palmour, Joseph 

150 

Powells Creek 

1791 

Phillips, William 

205 

Powells Creek 

1792 

Phillips, George 

153 

Ogeechee River 

1792 

Pollard, William 

450 

Ogeechee River 

1792 

Phillips, William 

107 

Ogeechee River 

1796 

Pullen, Robert 

147 

Ogeechee River 

1796 

Phillips, Joseph 

120 


1797 

Parker, Daniel 

400 

Beaverdam Creek 

1799 

Pinkard, James 

70 


1799 

Posey, Benjamin 

154 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1799 

Philllips, Joseph 

400 

Ogeechee River 

1800 

Phillips, William 

386 


1800 

Pierce, John 

203 


1800 

Perdue, Thomas 

29^4 


1814 

Phillips, George 

124 1-5 

Richland Creek 

1820 

Pierce, Lovick 

36 


1822 

Pollard, Pugh 

91 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1821 

Peck, Robert 

24 7-10 

Richland Creek 

1833 

Reed, Samuel 

250 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1788 

Reddock, Abraham 

655 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

Ross, Adam 

11 


1788 

Rayle, Thomas 

142 

Fishing Creek 

1789 

Reed, Andrew 

47 


1789 

Reddock, Abraham 

1000 


1790 

Rabun, Mathew 

500 

Fulsoms Creek 

1790 

Ratchford, Joseph 

140 


1790 

Raines, Thomas 

304 


1793 

Robirds, Thomas 

460 

Oconee River 

1794 

Ragan, John 

425 

High Land Creek 

1794 

Robinet, Ezekiel 

583 

Beaverdam Creek 

1795 

Rees, Joel 

60 

Fort Creek 

1795 

Rees, Joel 

18 


1795 

Rees, Joel 

115 


1795 

Ross, John 

110 


1796 

Reed, Samuel 

60 


1796 

Robinson, John 

213 


1798 

Reid, George 

400 

Oconee River 

1798 

Rabun, Mathew 

263 

Buchhorn Creek 

1798 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Read, John 

280 

Runnels, Jean 

9oy 2 

Richards, George 

27 

Ray, John A. 

153 

Riley, Joseph 

30 

Roberts, Isaac 

420 2-5 

Sanford, Jesse 

690 

Sanders, Jesse 

538*4 

Smith, John 

230 

Smith, John 

460 

Smith, George 

270 

Smith, Joseph 

300 

Sanders, Jessee 

460 

Sanford, Jesse 

380 

Sanford, Jesse 

720 

Simenton, Theopilus 

230 

Simenton, Theopilus 

230 

Stewart, James 

500 

Stewart, James 

400 

Stewart, Henry 

300 

Spillers, Daniel 

350 

Sanford, Jesse 

287 y 

Spears, William 

280 

Smith, Robert 

200 

Simonton, Adam 

262^4 

Simonton, Adam 

535 

Spradlin, Joseph 

300 

Simonton, Theophilus 

220 

Swepson, John 

300 

Scarlett, James 

287)4 

Smith, William 

94 

Smith, John 

920 

Smith, Archibald 

522 

Stringer, John 

200 

Stone, Mathew 

280 

Stone, Mathew 

655 

Spratt, Hugh 

134 

Stocks, Isaac 

93 

Spradling, Joshua 

471 

Smith, Samuel 

210 

Stewart, Thomas 

250 

Swinney, John 

78 

Stokes, George 

133 

Sessney, Samuel 

220 

Shelby, William 

46 

Smith, Archibald 

287^2 

Spradling, Joseph 

455 

Slaughter. Samuel 

2«7 

Slaughter, Ezekiel 

390 

Slaughter, Ruben 

130 

Street, William 

93 

Stradley, Dempsey 

75 

Stephens, Nathaniel 

200 

Short, James 

66 

Spight, William 

113 

Smith, Leavin 

450 


Location 

Year 

Powells Creek 

1798 

1801 


1807 


1818 

Ogeechee River 

1820 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1836 

Oconee Riv*er 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1786 

1787 

Beaverdam Creek 

1787 

Fishing Creek 

1787 

Fulsoms Creek 

1787 

1787 

Oconee River 

1788 

1788 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

1788 

Richland Creek 

1788 

Rocky Creek 

1788 

Island Creek 

1788 

1788 

1789 
1789 
1789 

Beaverdam Creek 

1789 


1789 

1789 

1789 

Powells Creek 

1789 

Oconee River 

1790 

1790 

Town Creek 

1791 

1791 

1791 

Greenbriar Creek 

1792 

1793 

Natts Creek 

1794 

Big Creek 

1794 

1795 

1795 

1796 

Richland Creek 

1797 

1797 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1798 

1798 

1798 

Powells Creek 

1798 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1799 

Oconee River 

1800 

Ogeechee River 

1801 

1801 

1802 

Town Creek 

1802 


44 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Names of Grantees. 

Acres 

Smith, Reddick 

56 

Smith, Ruben 

100 

Sparks, Thomas 

445 

Sankey, John T. 

6 

Swinney, John 

78 

Smith, Jesse 

200 

Sims, Zachariah 

89 

Starr, Elijah 

30 

Sayers, David 

5 1-10 

Stevens ,Edward 

13 3-5 

Smith, Ebinezer 

202 3-10 

Sayers, David 

13 2-5 

Thompson, Jesse 

1150 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

2000 

Trammell, Thomas 

158 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

800 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

287% 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

1150 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

14000 

Thompson, Robert 

850 

Townsend, Samuel 

190 

Thweat, James 

40 

Thweat, James 

300 

Tankerslay, John 

187 

Thompson, William 

234 

Thompson, Benjamin 

500 

Taylor, Joseph G. 

575 

Thompson, Benjamin, Jr. 

240 

Thompson, Zachariah 

125 

Thornton, Roger 

317 

Thornton, Roger 

390 

Thompson, Robert 
Thweat, James 

460 

50 

Thrasher, Joseph C. 

136 

Turk, Theodosius 

300 

Thompson, Robert 

200 

Tripp, Robert 

27 

Thomas, Spencer 

27 

Thornton, Redman 

447 

Thomas, John H. 

147 

Terrell, David S. 

44 

Thornton, Tames A. 

44^ 

Thornton, James A. 

12 

Veazy, Ezekiel 

50 

Veasey, John 

450 

Veazey, Jesse 

659 

Veasey, Timothy 

46 

Veaxey, Jesse 

659 

Wagnon, John P. 
Willoughby, William 

1700 

230 

Wagnon, John P. 

5000 

Welborn, Curtis 

460 

Williamson, Isaac 

250 

Wright, William 

450 

Welborne, Thomas 

200 

Watts, Thomas 

43 


Location Year 

Richland Creek 1802 

1805 

1807 

1807 

1807 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1817 

1818 
1825 
1835 
1786 


Oconee River, water of 1786 

Fulsoms Creek, water of 1787 

Town Creek 1788 

Town Creek 1788 

Town Creek 1788 

Town Creek 1788 

Big Creek, water of 1788 

Beaverdam Creek 1788 

Ogeechee River 1788 

Buffalo Creek 1789 

1789 

Ogeechee River 1789 

1789 

1790 

Folsoms Creek 1790 

Folsoms Creek 1792 

Folsoms Creek 1793 

Fort Creek 1793 

Oconee River 1794 

1795 

1797 

Powells Creek 1798 

1798 
1810 

Stephens Creek 1819 

Little River, water of 1819 


1830 

1832 

1837 

1838 
1790 

Ogeechee River 1798 

1798 

Richland Creek 1819 

Shoulderbone Creek 1835 

1786 

1786 

Buffalo Creek 1786 

Greenbrier Creek 17^6 

Ogeechee River 1787 

Shoulderbone Creek 1787 

Oconee River 1787 

1787 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 45 


Names of Grantees. 

i\ci es 

Wagnon John P. 

6000 

Welborne, Thomas 

230 

Wood, James 

180 

Whatley, Daniel 

400 

Welbourn, Curtice 

538 

Welborn, Edward 

230 

Wagnon, John P. 

1400 

Wyley, William 

230 

Wood, Ethelred 

862 

Wood, Mathew 

426 

Wood, Aristarchus 

200 

Welborn, Thomas 

158 

Welborn, Thomas 

412 

Wiley, Oliver 

200 

Williamson, Isaac 

450 

West, Christian 

343 

Williams, Thos. Heirs of 

200 

Williams, Silas 

200 

Whatley, Willis 

427 

Williams, Isaac 

500 

Wall, John 

720 

Welbourn, Thomas 

320 

Ward, James 

238 

Wiggins, Lewis 

35 

Wall, Francis 

315 

Welborne, Elijah 

230 

Welbornej Joshua 

191 

Washington, William 

200 

Williams, Johnathan 

233 

Wilson, John 

143 

Wood, Jane 

98 

Whatley, Daniel 

50 

Wilson, John 

460 

Wilkinson, John 

90 

Wade, Thomas 

234 

Warburton, Thomas 

241 4-5 

Wilson, William 

700 

White, Joseph 

77 

White, Joseph 

22 

Winfrey, Jesse 

600 

Wood, Ethelrod 

126 

Wardlaw, William 

124 

Wood, Mathew 

175 

Warmack, Abraham 

10 

White, George 

20 

White, Joseph 

30 

Ware, James 

230 

Whatley, Elisha 

535 

Walker, William 

650 

Wamock, Abraham 

500 

Whatley, Michael 

300 

Whatley, Jesse 

130 

Wheeles, Abner 

286 

Woods, James 

104 

Woods, James 

350 

White, John 

100 


Location 

Year 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

1787 

1787 

1787 

Oconee River 

1787 

1787 

Ogeechee River 

1787 

1787 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1787 

Log Dam Creek 

1787 

Richland Creek 

1787 

Oconee River 

1787 

1788 
1788 

Ogeechee River 

1788 

1788 

1788 

1789 

Crooked Creek 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1789 

1789 

1789 

1789 

1789 

1790 

Middle Creek 

Oconee River 

1790 

Greenbrier Creek 

1790 

1790 

1791 

1792 
1792 

Ogeechee River 

1792 

1792 

1792 

Shoulderbone Creek 

Ogeechee River 

1792 

1794 

1794 

Beaverdam Creek 

1794 

1794 

Richland Creek 

1795 

1795 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1796 

1796 

1797 
1797 

1797 

1798 

Richland Creek 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

Graybills Creek 

1798 

Oconee River 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1798 

Dreads Creek 

1798 

1798 

Ogeechee River 

1800 

Oconee River 

1801 


46 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUUTY 


Name of Grantees. A,cres 

Wilburn, Thomas 130 

Williams, Johnathan 60 

Williams, Johnathan 20 

Wright, Zebulon YlVi 

Ward, Johnathan 365 

Watson, Solomon 200 

Weaver, William W. D. 137 

Weaver,Travis A. D. 200 

Wilson, John 44^2 

Walker, John E. 2J4 

Wilson, John 22^4 

Yeats, A.braham 6 7-10 

Zachary, Bartholomeu 690 

Peek, Hart C. 3 3-10 

Watts, Harrison H. 10 9-10 

Wilson, John 9 Mj 

Mapp, Mary Mrs. 31 

Bowden, Ellis W. C. 72 


Location 

Year 

AppalacheeRiver 

1801 

1804 


1804 


1828 

Shoulderbone Creek 

1826 


iOtJ 

1828 


1828 


1845 

Richland Creek 

1851 

Town Creek 

1851 

Town Creek 

1821 

Oconee River 

1790 

By Crutchfield 

1859 

y Scott & Watts 

1858 

By Moncrief and others 

1859 

By Kilpatrick and others 

1860 

By Jackson & Champion 

1861 


Office Secretary of State, 

Milledgeville, June 1867. 

I certify that this Book, for Greene County, contains a true extract 
from the Register of Grants in said County as orginally Granted. 


Given under my hand & Official Seal. 

Signed — A. C. Barnett, Secretary of State. 


SEAL OF THE 
STATE OF GEORGIA 
AFFIXED HERE. 


Greene County was laid out of Washington, in 1786. 
Named after Major General Nathaniel Greene. 

Length 22 miles, breadth, 17 miles, area square miles, 374. 

There have been under Head Rights in this County, 255, 
335 Acres. 

This certificate seems to be a supplement to the last page 
listing Grantees in alphabetical order, and is pasted to the 
cover. 

The few names that are recorded on this sheet, seem to 
cover the last few factions that had not been taken up by pre¬ 
vious grants. This is probably true of other small tracts that 
appear throughout the list. It seems to have been customary to 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


47 


survey tracts of land to suit the Grantee, and the result was, 
that nearly all plats recorded are of irregular shape. This cre¬ 
ated small fractions of land that no one owned or claimed, and 
when the adjoining land owners found these unclaimed tracts, 
they made applications for additional Grants and added them 
to their original survey. 

The handwriting giving the names and location of these 
Head Right Grants is very clear and beautifully written. And 
I have used great care in copying them just as they were writ¬ 
ten. If any of the names are spelled wrong, it is due to the fact 
that they appeared in the record just as they are shown above. 

There can be no doubt about a great many of the Grants 
recorded in the original Greene county, along the Oconee and 
Ogeechee Rivers, are located in what is now Hancock, Baldwin, 
Taliaferro, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties. Many of the 
Creeks describing the location of the Grants, are unknown to 
Mr. Samuel P. Turner, the oldest County Surveyor in Greene 
county. While some of them are known to be wholely within 
the counties that have been formed out of Greene. 

Many of the names mentioned by Sherwood, White and 
other historians as being among the earliest settlers of Greene, 
do not appear among the above Grantees. This is due to the 
fact, that they located their Grants while this territory belonged 
to Washington county. Such names as, John Armor, Davis Gres¬ 
ham, Peter Curtwright, Isaac Stocks Jonas Fauche, E. E. 
Park, G. W. Forester, William Greer, and many others, can be 
identified as having lived in what is now Greene, and the re¬ 
cord of their Grants can be found in the office of the Secretary 
of State. But, the other original settlers whose names can not 
be identified, will be most difficult to trace. 

Many of the original Grantees sold their lands as soon 
as their titles were clear, therefore it is difficult to identify 
many of them as actual citizens of the county. The price paid 
for the choice lands seemed to average around $5.00 per acre. 

Land thieves seemed to be quite active in those days, and 
forged deeds were not infrequent. In fact, forgery was practic¬ 
ed so often, that the Legislature passed a law making for- 


48 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


gery a capital offense and punishable by hanging without the 
benefit of clergy. The minutes of the Greene Superior Court 
of the Spring term of 1800, show where two men were tried 
and convicted of forging land deeds, and were sentenced to be 
hanged. Both of them belonged to prominent families, and es¬ 
caped the death penalty through the Governor’s intervention 
at the last moment. The Capitol was at Louisville then, and 
tradition says, that the Governor signed the intervention late 
in the afternoon of the day previous to the date fixed for the 
execution. The friends of the doomed men covered the distance 
to Greensboro by a relay of horses, and reached the Sheriff just 
in time to prevent the hanging. The Sheriff anticipated that the 
Governor might intervene, and delayed the execution as long as 
he could. The hour fixed for the execution, was between the 
hours of ten and two o’clock, and it is said that the order reach¬ 
ed the Sheriff just a few minutes before two o’clock. 

“According to White,” the original settlers of Greene, 
were: Thomas Horton, Davis Gresham, William Fitzpatrick, 
Henry Graybill, Oliver Porter, John Bailey, Charles Cessna, 
Thomas Baldwin, M. Rabun, John George, Alexander Reid, 
Michael Rogers, David Dickson, Walton Hraris, Peyton 
Smith, Ezekiel E. Park, Peter Curtright, G. W. Foster, John 
Armour. Major Poullain, Jesse Perkins, Joel Newsome, James 
Armstrong, Thomas Harris, and Major Beasley.” To the 
above list, Dr. Smith adds the Abercrumbies, the Dales, the 
Fauches, and the Brewers. 

Note:—To the above should be added, Isaac Stocks, Wil¬ 
liam, Thomas, and Edmond Daniel all of whom settled on the 
Oconee River, about 1786, James Houghton, William Heard, 
and many others should be listed among the earliest settlers. 
Isaac Stocks settled near the Oconee River while this territory 
was a part of Washington County; and had built a private fort 
for the protection of his family before Greene was laid out. 

The Dawsons should be listed also, as General Thomas 
Dawson is said to have been the first child born in Greene 
County. This distinction seems to be pretty equally divided 
between him and Judge Thomas Stocks. Stocks was born three 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


49 


day before Greene was created, and while the territory was 
still Washington, while Dawson was born a few days after. 

Some of the names mentioned above settled in the terri¬ 
tory that later became Greene while it was still Washington 
County; and for that reason, their names do not appear among 
the head right grants that were issued to settlers in Greene. 
Their names as grantees can be found in the office of the 
Secretary of State in Atlanta. A complete list of head right 
grants is recorded elsewhere, however, that list includes many 
names that soon disappeared, as they were not settlers in the 
strict sense of the word. Many of them were “Squatters” who 
probably lived on the land long enough to enable them to take 
the oath that they were settlers, and entitled to a land grant. 
But, as soon as they received titles to the land, they sold it for 
what it would bring. There are hundreds of such sales of land 
recorded in the Clerk’s office in Greensboro. Most of this 
land brought 1 Pound Sterling, or about $5.00 per acre. Most 
of the early settlers tried to secure lands along the Ogeechee 
and Oconee Rivers, and Shoulderbone and Richland Creeks. 
Many of the less prominent streams on which grants were lo¬ 
cated, are hard to indentify now as the names of some of the 
streams have been changed. , 

“Thomas Hart, the grandfather of Judge John C. Hart, 
was among the pioneers. Likewise William James, Obediah 
Copelan, McKinney Howell, Archibald Perkins, John C. Wood, 
Jr., James Nisbit, John Dolvin, the Davises, the McWhorters, 
the Lewises, etc.” 

“The first resident of Greene to leave a will on record 
was Joseph Smith, a surveyor. His estate comprised: 17 cows, 
4 horses, 3 Bibles, 3 Testaments, 3 sermon books, a number of 
surveying instruments, and 4>4 yards of gray cloth. The first 
Grand Jury was constituted as follows: Thomas Harris, fore¬ 
man; David Love, Walton Harris, David Gresham, John A. 
Miller, William Fitzpatrick, William Heard. Moses Shelby, 
James Jenkins, Joseph White, Robert Baldwin, William Shelby, 
Jessee Connell, Joseph Spradling, and William Daniel.” 


50 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


CENSUS 1790-1930 

The population of Greene county, Ga., and of each incor¬ 
porated place therein, so far as shown at each of the Federal 
Censuses, from 1790 to 1930 inclusive. 


Census 

Greene 




Union 

White 


Year 

County 

Greensboro 

Penfield 

Siloam 

Point 

Plains 

Woodville 

1790 

5,405 







1800 

10,761 







1810 

11,679 







1820 

13,589 







1830 

12,549 







1840 

11,690 







1850 

13,068 







1860 

12,652 







1870 

12,454 

913 

447 



374 


1880 

17,547 

1,621 

458 


576 

459 


1890 

17,051 

1,313 




510 


1900 

16,542 

1,511 

375 



290 


1910 

18,512 

2,120 

475 


1,363* 

407 


1920 

18.972 

2,128 

315 

243 

1,126 

479 

458 

1930 

12,616 

2,125 

184 

369 

1,627 

405 

332 


♦Incorporated in 1901. 


























HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 51 

CENSUS OF GREENE COUNTY FOR 1859. 

Copied from the Greensboro Weekly Gazette Sept. 28, 1859. 

“We have kindly been furnished, by our friend, Major 
Isaac R. Hall, Clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts, with, 
a list of the census of this county for the present year, which 
we give below:” 


Number of Families, 

804 

Males under six years of age, 

398 

Males between six and sixteen, 

557 

Females over sixteen years of age, 

1,106 

Females under six years of age, 

377 

Females over fifteen, 

1,144 

Total of Free Whites, 

4,075 

Total of Slaves, 

7,672 

Free Negroes, 

37 

Total Whites and Blacks, 

11,781 


The Federal Census for the year 1860, shows the total popu¬ 
lation of Greene county to be, 12,652. Or a difference of 871 
in one year. 

GREENE COUNTY CENSUS TAKERS IN 1810 

BROWNING 

In the year 1810 the following appropriations were ap¬ 
proved for taking the Census or Third Enumeration of the 
State of Georgia, in Greene County: 

“To William Browning, thirty dollars twelve and an half cents. 

To Thomas Dawson, twenty-six dollars sixty-two and half cents. 

To Reuben Dawson, twenty-one dollars fifty-six and a quarter cents. 

To Evans Merrick, twenty dollars twelve and an half cents.” 

This indicates that the State of Georgia took its own 
census up to, and including the year 1810. 

If this be true, where are the early census records to be 
found? When did the federal government begin compiling the 
census? 



52 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The Missionary 
Jan. 3, 1825 

CENSUS BY COUNTY 


Population 1825 



Whites 

Slaves and 
free persons 
of colour 

Clarke 

5,181 

4,205 

Greene 

5„962 

7,537 

Hancock 

5,629 

7,546 

Jasper 

10,297 

5,714 


(Note — Jasper was the only county in the list published with more 
than five figures. Am not sure that Chatham and Richmond were in the list.) 


The Missionary 
Monday Nov. 12, 1821 

MARRIED: at Greensboro, on the first inst., Edw. H. Macon to Miss 
Amanda Grimes, daughter of Thomas W. Grimes, Esq. 

The Missionary 
Aug. 30, 1824 


There was quite an account of a monument erected in Ceylon to the 
memory of Rev. James Richards A. M. 


American Missionary 
Who died Aug. 3, 1822 
Aged 38 years 

One of the first projectors of American Missions 
He gave himself to Christ 
And then to the Heathen 
A physician both to mind and body. 


(Wonder if he was kin to the Rev. Richards, father of Wm. C. Rich¬ 
ards and the other artist son, who named the waterfalls around Toccoa 
and Tallullah. He gave them the names they now bear, when he was in 
those mountains painting in the 1840’s. 


1812 — TOWN MEETING 

At a meeting of the Citizens of Greene County of the 
State of Georgia, held at Greensboro, on the 13th day of 
August 1812 for the purpose of addressing the President of 
the United States on the expediency of takng immediate pos¬ 
session of the Floridas. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


53 


Oliver Porter, Esquire was nominated Chairman & Ebe- 
nezer Torrence, Secretary. 

When the following address and resolutions were un¬ 
animously adopted; 

To his Excellency James Madison, 

President of the United States. 

The petition of the Citizens of Greene County in the 
State of Georgia, Respectfully Sheweth. 

That it is an acknowledged Constitutional right, sacred 
to the people of the United States, peaceably to assemble and 
to address the Constituted Authorities of their Country, upon 
all subjects of a public nature, in which they may feel them¬ 
selves interested. Your petitioners are well aware, that, upon 
ordinary occasions, it may not be good policy, too frequently 
to exercise this privilege; but in times of war, of difficulty, 
and of danger, a neglect of this privilege, would in many 
cases amount to a dereliction of duty, as good citizens. 

If your petitioners were not sensible, at this time, that 
duty to themselves and their Country, points to the necessity of 
addressing your Excellency, they would not have ventured to 
impose on you their opinions; but as the subject for their con¬ 
sideration, is one, which materially and vitally affects their 
dearest interests they feel constrained to approach you as 
petitioners. 

Your petitioners however would promise to your Excel¬ 
lency, that they do not come forward with this petition, with 
any views or wishes, of weakening the arm of Government, 
of disaffection, or disobedience to the law; on the Contrary, 
they highly approve of the general measures of the Administra¬ 
tion, and they feel themselves impelled by every Consideration 
of duty interest and patriotism, to support the measures of 
Government, whether they relate to the war in which we have 
lately embarked, or to any other legal and Constitutional ob¬ 
ject. They are the more willing and anxious to support the 
Government, in the war in which we are engaged, because they 
have long felt and seen the injuries and insults, which with an 


54 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


unrelenting hand and heart, have been heaped upon by great 
Britain. They have seen our excellent Government, with the 
most unexampled degree of patience, exhaust every means of 
negotiation, with that power, whose almost every act, since 
the establishment of our Independence, has evinced the malig¬ 
nity of her heart towards us; and whose injustice and cupidity, 
again call us from the bosom of our families and our homes, 
to stand forth in the defence of the rights and the Honor of 
our beloved Country. Under the most solemn appeal to the 
Author of the Universe, for the sincerity of their intentions, to 
support their government in all the measures which they in 
their wisdom may think proper to adopt, to punish the injust¬ 
ice of our enemy; and bring the present contest to a speedy, 
honorable and favorable issue. They will proceed to lay before 
your Excellency, the subject of their immediate consideration. 
Your petitioners are well aware that it is not unknown to your 
Excellency, that it is of the utmost importance to the United 
States, and the more especially to this section of the Union, 
than the Floridas should be attached to, and exclusively belong 
to the United States. It would be useless for your petitioners 
to attempt an enumeration of all the advantages that would 
result to the people of this Country, in the event of the Floridas 
being incorporated with the Union, and it would be equally un¬ 
necessary, to point out the many evils that must inevitably ac¬ 
crue to us, should they remain in the possession of Spain, or 
what is still more to be depredated, should they become the 
dependencies of Great Britain. They will only submit to the 
Consideration of your Excellency, a few of the most promi¬ 
nent reasons, which have influenced them to this Convention; 
and point out some of the advantages, arising to this Country, 
from the possession of those provinces, and some of the dis¬ 
advantages, necessarily attendant on falling into the hands of 
the enemies. The province of East Florida, is immediately 
contiguous to, and bordering on, the State of Georgia. 

It is at this time, claimed by the Regency of Spain, in the 
name of Ferdinand the seventh; That regency and great Britain 
are in the most strict alliance: as we are engaged in a war with 
Great Britain, and her dependencies, it becomes our indispen- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


55 


sible duty, to use every possible means in our power to im¬ 
pair her strength, and diminish her resources, for carrying on 
the war against us. In what way can the United States most 
effectually obtain this end? By depredations on her commerce, 
and by cutting off her communication with this continent; In 
short, by the Conquest of her possessions in the North, and 
by the Occupation of the Floridas in the South. 

Admitting for a moment, that we should abandon all inten¬ 
tion of taking possession of the Floridas, and they should 
not be ceded by the regency of Spain, to Great Britain; yet, 
as the regency and Great Britain are allies, Great Britain 
would surely claim of her ally, the privilege of entering her 
ports to refit her fleets, to bring in for condemnation, the 
prizes she might Capture from U. States, and to obtain the 
necessary munitions of War. But your petitioners are con¬ 
fident, from the relative situation of the United States and 
the Floridas, that consequences more pernicious than those al¬ 
ready enumerated, would result to us, in the event of our forces 
abandoning those provinces. The patriots of East Florida, 
have openly rebelled against their mother Country, they have 
formally declared themselves free and Independent, and have 
proceeded to the adoption of a Constitution of Government— 
Your petitioners are impressed with a belief, that the patriots 
of Florida, have been more prompt in asserting their claims 
to the right of self Government, from an expectation, that the 
the United States, would extend to them the arm of protection, 
in the support of so noble a cause: and your petitioners are 
greatly apprehensive, that the patriots, should they be now 
abandoned by the U. States, would immediately place them¬ 
selves under the protection of the Government of Great Brit¬ 
ain, knowing that they would be treated as rebels by the 
Government from which they revolted- 

In addition to the reasons already advanced, against the 
policy of abandoning the Floridas at this juncture and thereby 
endangering their becoming dependencies of Great Britain, 
may be added the facilities, which will consequently be afford¬ 
ed our enemy, to annov our Southern Coasting trade, and to 
pursue with success the odious and abominable practice of 


56 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


smuggling; and in possession of the Floridas, will not our 
Enemy have it greatly in her power, to stir up against us, the 
merciless and unrelenting Savages, immediately bordering upon 
us: and from a history of the Revolutionary war, have we not 
much to fear from her seductive overtures to our black popu¬ 
lation, exciting them to abandon their owners and perhaps to 
rise up in rebellion against them? Your petitioners have seen, 
with infinite regret and Concern, that a bill which had passed 
the House of Representatives of the United States, by a large 
majority, and which had for its object, the immediate occupa¬ 
tion of the Floridas, was rejected by the Senate. But your peti¬ 
tioners are of opinion, that under the law of Congress passed 
in 1811, authorizing the President of the United States, to 
take possession of the Floridas on the happening of either of 
two events, that your Excellency would be justified and fully 
authorized in taking such measures, as you might deem expedi¬ 
ent to occupy those provinces, or at least, to prevent our enemy 
from doing so. That there is every probability that Great Brit¬ 
ain, if not anticipated, will possess herself of the Floridas, is too 
obvious to be questioned. And shall we tamely and quietly set 
by, and suffer our open and avowed enemy, to possess herself 
of those provinces, and thus increase her means of annoying 
us? No, let us not wait till the blow which seals our destiny is 
given. What will now be the work of a few days, and loss of 
little blood, may if delayed cost us the lives of thousands, and 
the labor of years. In making the foregoing representations to 
your Excellency, your petitioners have been governed, entirely 
by a sense of the importance of the subject of this petition, to 
the people of this State, and by a wish to express to your 
Excellency, the confidence they entertain, in the firm, wise and 
decided measures of your administration. Your petitioners do 
not presume that they have thrown new light on the subject 
of this petition, nor do they believe that a single reason has 
been advanced, of which your Excellency was not perfectly ap¬ 
prised. 

It is foreign from their purpose, in the smallest degree to 
wish to dictate to their Government; on the Contrary, they wish 
to inspire confidence, and to evince their disposition to cooper- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


57 


ate, in such measures as may be adopted. They have only a 
wish, that your Excellency will carry into effect the act of Con¬ 
gress of 1811, so far as that law, in relation to the Floridas, 
will authorize you to go. Whatever expedients may be resorted 
to by your Excellency to this end, we, the people of Greene 
County of the State of Georgia, do hereby pledge our lives, 
our fortunes, and our Sacred Honors, in support of the Gov¬ 
ernment, in the pursuit of so laudable and all important an 
object. And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray 
etc. 

1st. Resolved by this meeting, that a Copy of this petition 
be Transmitted to The President of the United States. 

2nd. Resolved that a Copy of this petition, be likewise 
forwarded to the Governor of this State, and to three different 
printers in this State for publication. 

3rd. Resolved that this meeting, viewing the importance of 
the subject of its immediate Consideration, do recommend to 
other Counties of this State, to take the same into Considera¬ 
tion. 


Oliver Porter, Chairman 
Ebenezer Torrence, Secretary 


FREE PERSONS OF COLOUR 


Georgia, 

Wilkes County, 

I, John Holiday, Clerk of the Inferior Court of said 
County, do hereby certify that Patience generally known 
by the name of Pateenee Todd now about forth-eight 
years of age and by profession a Baker, was regularly 
enrolled in the office of the Inferior Court of said 
County as a free person of colour, also her son Gabriel; 
and that no person gainsaying the same. Agreeable to law 
she is considered a freeman of color and entitled to her 
freedom agreeable to the laws of Georgia. 

Given under my hand the 13 day of October, 1827. 

Signed: John Holiday late clerk of I. W. C. 

Recorded on the 16th day of May 1834, and signed by Vincent Sanford, 
Clerk of Inferior Court of Greene County. 


58 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Thus it will be readily seen that these “free persons of 
colour” were at liberty to move at will; the only requirement 
being, that they register with the Clerk of the Inferior Court 
each year; and that their occupation and place of residence be 
shown on the register. 

The Act setting them free, and the regulation of such 
persons, is entitled an Act to manumit and make free certain 
persons of colour, and became a law on Dec. 1, 1801, and was 
signed: Josiah Tatnall, Jr., Governor. However, provisions 
were made as early as 1770 for freeing negroes, Indians, mul- 
attoes, or mestizoes; but guardians had to be appointed to 
look after them. 

One free negro is said to have been a Revolutionary sol¬ 
dier and fought at the Battle of Kettle Creek, and received a 
pension for his services. 

It would be interesting to know what became of these 
“persons of colour” who gained their freedom in Greene coun¬ 
ty, and the story back of their liberation. The ever changing 
record in the Ordinary’s office clearly indicates that most of 
them left the county. But, where they went and what they did 
seems lost to history. The vast majority of those who gained 
their freedom were in the prime of life; and only a very few 
were over 50 years of age, while many were between 10 and 
30. The Andersons and Grants were evidently opposed to 
slavery; and it is possible that the religious wave that swept 
Georgia from 1826 to 1830 caused an awakening on the sub¬ 
ject of forced servitude. 

There is a very interesting old book in the office of the 
Ordinary of Greene county inscribed as follows: “Registry of 
Free Persons of Colour.” The first list of names of “Free Per¬ 
sons of Colour” bears date of 1819; and, the names of twenty 
such persons are recorded. Their age, place of nativity, pre¬ 
sent residence, how long in Georgia, and occupation are shown. 
Their ages varied from 1 to 65 years. Nine of them were born 
in Greene county, one in Franklin; the others were born in 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


59 


North and South Carolina and Virginia. The greatest number 
of these free persons of colour bore the names of Anderson, 
Lucas, Grant, and King, although, the name of Anderson led 
the list. The birth place of some of the Grants was given as 
Halifax County, Va., while the others were from Wilkes coun¬ 
ty, Georgia. This was due to the fact that, the Grants lived in 
that part of Wilkes that was added to Greene 1802. The law 
required that all such persons register annually with the clerk 
of the Inferior Court of the county in which they lived; and it is 
interesting to note how the list changed from year to year. 
In 1824, practically all who registered bore the name of Ander¬ 
son; and in 1825-6-7-8-9 and 30, all of them bore the name of 
Anderson. In 1834, the Andersons disappeared entirely and 
Grants took their places. In 1837, there was only one who regis¬ 
tered and her name was Reney Woodly from Sussex county, Va. 
The Grants increased in number in 1846 and 47 and seemed to 
remain on the roll until 1862; and in that year, the only one 
to register was Ben Sanford whose name first appeared in 
1857. The name of Patience Todd appears in 1834; and the 
following entry taken from the Wilkes county record gives a 
clear idea of the procedure in vogue at that time: 


GREEN COUNTY PEOPLE DURING 
THE SEVENTEEN-NINETIES 

I have heard a good many people say, “I do not care what 
my ancestors did in the long, long ago, I am interested only in 
what is going on now.” However, there are some who are in¬ 
terested in tracing, step, by step, the rugged road that led to 
the intelligent age, prosperity, and culture that we now enjoy; 
and it is for these that this, and similar articles have been writ¬ 
ten. 

The following paragraphs were found among Greene 
County’s earliest Court records that were laboriously written 
with a quill pen and home-made ink. The title page of the 
book that I have before me reads: 


60 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“RECORD OF THE INFERIOR COURT 
OF GREENE COUNTY 

VOL. 1.” 

Many of the entries bear date of 1798, and some of 
them deal with matters that took place even earlier than that. 
No, this book does not contain the original records, but were 
transcribed by Benjamin Jourdan in years 1812-13. The writ¬ 
ing is like the beautiful script we “oldsters” were taught to 
try to copy in the copy-books that our “daddies” bought for 
us back in the days when there were no free schools nor free 
school books. Handwriting is almost a lost art now. 

There is a pathetic story concerning Benjamin Jourdan 
and the beautiful records that he transcribed for Greene Coun¬ 
ty. I have his original contract to do this work before me. Short¬ 
ly after he began his work on the records, he was indicted, tried, 
and convicted of murder. The jury recommended mercy and 
the Judge heeded the recommendation. The sentence was, that 
he be branded on the thumb of his left hand, with the letter 
“M” signifying that he was a murderer; and to be confined in 
the common jail for a period, and then to pay the cost of the 
trial and, in the event he could not pay, he was to be kept in 
jail until the Court felt that he had been punished sufficiently. 

Benjamin Jourdan wrote many of the records while con¬ 
fined in jail, and most of the money he received for his work 
went to pay his fine. 

Not all of the early settlers of Greene County were 
scalped by the Indians, but altogether too many were, and had 
it not been for the Military Dragoons who patrolled the banks 
of the Oconee River and every able bodied man had to leave 
his plow and serve, when called upon, and had not forts, both 
private and public, been dotted within easy reach of the people, 
many of the present day citizens of Greene would never have 
seen the light of day. 

Those early citizens built cabins, cleared their lands, slept 
with their rifles by their bed side, kept faithful watch-dogs 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


61 


and were alert to every noise. When they went to their fields 
their wives and children went with them, and the trusty dog 
and rifle were close at hand. 

That they raised corn, wheat, tobacco, indigo, a little cot¬ 
ton, many cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens etc. ,is evidenced by 
claims filed against the State and nation, covering losses by In¬ 
dian raids. 

As early as 1787, we find where William Harris, a farm¬ 
er who lived near Greensboro, complained that Elijah Clark 
and Micajah Williamson’s soldiers, who were camped on his 
land, allowed their horses to get loose and invade his corn field. 
A committee was appointed to examine the field and assess the 
damage for which Mr. Harris was compensated. 

That Augusta, Ga., merchants advanced money and sup¬ 
plies for Greene county farmers to produce crops, and in lieu 
of a promissory note to repay the money, the agreement was to 
pay with tobacco, is clearly shown by the following entry 
that appears in Book, 1. Proceedings of the Greene Inferior 
Court, p. 86: 

; ‘I acknowledge myself justly indebted to Ander¬ 
son Fambrough twelve hundred and fifty weight of 
neet inspected Crop Tobacco to be delivered in Au¬ 
gusta by the first day of November next for value 
Received given under my hand this 19th day of 
March 1791.” 


(Signed) Charles C. G. Ivey 


Testator 
O. Porter 


Tobacco Warehouses were numerous in 1791 

Watkins Digest of Georgia Laws, p. 445, names the 
following Tobacco Warehouses that had been authorized by 
the Georgia Legislature: 


62 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“An Act for regulating the inspection of tobacco. Sec¬ 
tion III, reads: “And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That public warehouses for the inspection of tobacco 
persuant to this act, shall be kept at the several places herein 
after mentioned, that is to say, at Augusta, the three tobacco 
inspections already established, called and known by the name 
of McCall’s, Richmond, and Augusta; at Henry Arrington’s 
on the Savannah River, at New Savannah, on the land of 
John Twiggs; at Yamacraw ,on the lot of Mordecai Sheftall; 
at Hardwick’s, at the mouth of the Ogeechee; at Louisville, 
on the land of John Shellman, at Galphinton, on the land of 
Robert Forsyth; at Georgetown, on the land of Arthur Fort; 
at Lexington, on the land of Charles Statum; at Rocklanding, 
on the land of John McKinzie; at Montpellier, on the land of 
Charles McDonald; in the town of Greensboro, on the land of 

John Armour; at the town of Washington, on the lot of_; 

at the mouth of Broad river, on the land of John Oliver; and 
at Pace’s Ferry, on the land of Drewry Pace; on the land of 
White, Robinson & Co. at their iron works, on Sweet Water. 

Twelve other Tobacco Warehouses were established, in 
eastern and middle Georgia, prior to 1799, but not a single 
Cotton Warehouse was mentioned. 



CHAPTER IV 


VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, RAILROADS, 

AND ROADS 

There were many communities, towns and post offices in 
Greene county, which were important until the War Between 
the States and the Reconstruction Era. Most of the mills were 
burned by Sherman’s Raiders and few rebuilt later. 

L Park’s Bridge: This community was where the old Chop’t 
Road from Greensboro to the Walnut Hill on the Missi- 
sippi River crossed the Oconee River. This road was laid 
out by Samuel Dale, a Greene County citizen, who 1 was ap¬ 
pointed by President Thomas Jefferson to extend the road 
to the west. In addition to the finest mill in Greene County, 
were several stores, an Inn where the stagecoach changed 
horses and the passengers were fed, a post office which was 
called Park’s Bridge. The office was discontinued May 29, 
1851. (Athens Southern Banner of May 29, 1851). 

2. VEAZY: This was a very old community and in all pro¬ 
bability named for Eli Veazy, a prosperous merchant and 
farmer there. The present postoffice still bears that name 
it is about one mile nearer Greensboro than the original 
location. (Herald-Journal, Feb. 24, 1939) 

Veazy, was listed in the Herald of 1897 as a neighbor¬ 
hood with many advantages. The lands were cheap and 
fertile and there were excellent schools and churches. Vea¬ 
zy was six miles south of Greensboro. The lands were 
sandy and five to fifty dollars per acre. There were grist 
mills, a planing mill, a mill for corn and wheat, a wood 
shop, a wagon and buggy manufacturer, a saw mill and a 
shoe shop. Some of the people mentioned here were: J. H. 
Brown, Joel J. Ruarks, A. F. Jackson, T. J. P. Atkinson, 
John A. Veazy, Wm. H. Hardeman and Dr. W. F. Hailes. 

3. WOODVILLE: This village was located five miles north 
of Union Point on the Athens branch of the Georgia rail¬ 
road. This was once a prosperous village of 300 people, 


63 


64 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


a bank and large stores. It is said to have been given that 
name because here the trains loaded up with wood. Before 
it was called Woodville it was called Beeman for a man 
who owned a large store there. After the railroad was 
built the name was changed. These families came from this 
vicinity: the Davisons, the Durhams, the Wilsons, the 
Flukers, the Cheneys, the McWhorters and many other 
prominent families. While not as prosperous as once, 
Woodville is still there. 

Woodville was a good trading point. This village was ten 
miles from Greensboro. In 1887 they shipped 3,500 bales of 
cotton. There were two ginneries, three stores, and dairy¬ 
farming. The paper in 1897 carried pictures of Hon. W. P. 
McWhorter as being prominent in this community and serv¬ 
ing in the Third Georgia Regiment during the Civil War. 
There were other men mentioned as business men in the 
community; Hon. R. E. Davison, C. C. and T. C. Davison, 
W. J. Durham, G. F. Callahan, C. G. Moody, J. M. Rey¬ 
nolds, Prof. Hawes Cloud. 


WOODVILLE 1820 

“The following lines, extracted from Port Folio, are un¬ 
derstood to be from the pen of Mr. Henry Denison, late of 
this place: , 


WOODVILLE 

They tell me of the villas fair 
That on the banks of Schuykill rise; 

But every charm that opens there, 
Beneath the face of summer skies, - 
The green sward walk through scenery 
That like a bride draws every eye. 

And fruits and flow’rets every where 
All have I seen and all are fair. 

But Georgia’s clime delights me more; 

I would not journey north again, 

For all that art and nature pour 
Upon the fruitful land of Penn: 

For nature’s choicest bounty lies 
Beneath the warmth of southern skies: - 
Here all the sweets of earth combine, - 
Land of the orange and the vine. 

They tell me that of lovely streams, 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


65 


The elm-bound Merrimac excels; 

On its green brink in fairy dreams, 

Enrapt I’ve sat ’till evening bells, 

From distant steeple broke the chain, 
Which fancy webbed and wove again: - 
Yes, while a boy I wandered there, 

And own that Eastern lands are fair. 

But Eastern lands may boast their groves, 
Their ocean-isles and emerald fields; 

Our piney woods and turtle doves, 

And gardens where the red bird builds; 
Our river-cane that hides the doe, 

And forest oak with mistletoe, 

Our stately pine and cornel tree, 

Have thousand nameless charms for me. 

O Woodville! wheresoever yet 
To roam shall prove my destiny 
O, never can my soul forget 
The pleasant hours I’ve spent by thee. 

Thy pines may no fierce lightnings rend: 
But show’rs of silv’ry dews descend, 

And on thy sylvan bosom swell, 

Those beauties which I love so well. 


(Note—The dictionary says a “cornel tree” is a dogwood.) 


4. RICHLAND CREEK, was so named by the first settlers 
while this was Washington County and is said to be so 
named because of the rich lands through which the creek 
ran. Many “headrights” grants refer to Richland Creek 
and its waters as boundary lines. (Wm. Greer’s Survey of 
Greene Co. May 1786) 

5. CAREY: (Litch Postoffice) Carey was named for James 
Carey, for many years an employee of the Georgia rail¬ 
road. Litch was the name given the postoffice at Cary for 
a Mr. Litchfield who had a store there and no doubt was 
also Postmaster. This is where the Georgia railroad cross¬ 
es the Oconee River. 

6. CAWTHORN: In the 1890’s Major J. W. Cawthorn 
operated a store three miles southeast of Liberty Church. 
This postoffice was established here and only a few people 
ever lived here. 

7. GRESHAMVILLE: This community was probably nam¬ 
ed for Hon. Volney Gresham, or his father. New Hope 
or Fork Baptist Church was established here in 1800 and 


66 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Adiel Sherwood was once its pastor. It is located in Greene 
County about one mile to the right of Highway number 
12 between Greensboro and Madison. This community 
was settled prior to 1793 and suffered much from Indian 
raids. It was not incorporated but had a postoffice, two 
churches, several stores and there live about 100 people. 
(Robinson’s History of Ga. Baptist Asso. & Minutes of 
the New Hope Church) 

This town was located in the forks of two rivers, the 
Oconee and Appalachee. There were grown, cattle, stock, 
rye, wheat and cotton. There were two churches, and a good 
school, as well as gins, corn mill, brick stores and ten or 
twelve families. The land was valued in 1897 at from one 
to $10 on acre. 

8. RUTH: This was the name of a postoffice and small com¬ 
munity located about one mile from Liberty Church. The 
Post-mistress was Miss Ruth Williams. 

9. RICHLAND FARM: This was three miles west of 
Greensboro, on the Georgia railroad extending back to 
Richland Creek. A Mr. Sims from Atlanta owned about 
2,000 acres of land here. He built a number of houses, a de¬ 
pot and a side-track. Here he operated a large dairy and 
owned some fine Jersey cows. But alas! he did his spend¬ 
ing with the money from an Atlanta bank of which he was 
cashier. He broke the bank, was tried and served a term in 
the State penitentiary, and his farm was eventually sold 
to the highest bidder. 

10. WRAYSWOOD: This was the home place of the Wray 
family and is located between Greshamville and Scull 
Shoals. This has a store, postoffice and public ginnery. 
The last of the Wray’s died within the past ten years but 
Tom’s widow operates and owns the 200 acre farm. This 
family has owned these lands for 100 years. (Dr. Rice, 
1939) 

11. GRANTVILLE: This town which is now extinct was lo¬ 
cated on the old Greensboro-Washington road some three 
miles north of Union Point. Daniel Grant settled here 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


67 


while that territory was a part of Wilkes County. It was 
taken from Wilkes and added to Greene in 1802. Here 
was a tavern, postoffice, stagecoach station, horse racing, 
cock fights, greased pole contests, gander-pulling and many 
other primitive sports. Mr. Grant sold his holdings, took 
contracts for building parts of the Ga. railroad, moved 
to Marthasville (now Atlanta) and got in on the ground 
floor and made a fortune out of real estate. Grant’s Park 
was. a gift of this man to Atlanta. 

12. DANIEL’S SPRING: This is where Grantsville once 
stood and there is nothing except a mineral spring which 
was discovered by Cordial Grant who bought the lands. 
The popularity of the spring rises and falls with the vary¬ 
ing waves of prosperity and at the present the status is 
very low. (1939) 

13. SHOULDERBONE CREEK: This creek rises near 
White Plains flows southeast via Harris’ Mill thence to 
the Oconee River. The origin of the name seems to have 
passed into oblivion. It was named this when Washington 
County was laid out. It was wholly within Greene Co. from 
1786 to 1792 when Hancock Co. was formed from parts 
of Greene and Washington. When the Shoulderbone Trea¬ 
ty was signed Nov. 3, 1786 in Greene County, it is said to 
have been signed at a Fort, probally Fort Twiggs which 
was where Fort Creek empties into Shoulderbone Creek 
several miles below Harris’ Mill. Dissatisfaction over 
this treaty is supposed to have been responsible for the 
burning of Greensboro in 1787. 

14. ROCK LANDING: This place is located on the Oconee 
river some six miles below Milledgeville and the spot is 
marked with a bronze marker telling of the historic events 
that took place there. This was also the starting point of 
defining the boundary line of Greene County. (Watkins 
Digest of the Laws of Ga. pp. 322-3, 521) 

15. PUBLIC SQUARE: This was an important community 
with a post office. Justice of Peace, polling center and had 
the largest store in Greene Co. in 1820-30. It was located 


68 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


on the Greensboro-Washington road three miles north of 
Union Point. Sparks Hunter was the, “Merchant-Prince,” 
of Public Square and an uncle of William H. Sparks the 
author of “Memories of Fifty Years”. When Sparks Hunt¬ 
er died and the railroad came through, Public Square died, 
and TEMPERANCE BELL succeeded and in Feb. 8, 
1834 the postoffice was closed. The great revival near Be- 
thesda Church in 1826-27 is said to have brought about a 
Temperance wave that swept that section and gave the 
name of Temperance to the place. 

16. BETHANY: This first community was settled in early 
1784 and the first church was organized in 1786 and has 
continued to function throughout all the years. (History 
of Bethany by W. E. Reynolds, written in 1886) 

In 1790 the Greene Co. Inferior Court ordered a road 
laid out from Thweat’s Bridge on the Ogeechee to Rock 
Landing on the Oconee. Fort Fidius was erected here and 
here General Twiggs, Irwin, and Major Gaither met for 
the purpose of destroying Elijah Clark’s Trans Oconee Re¬ 
public,” and it was here that Clark made a bloodless sur¬ 
render. (Dr. Rice was present at the unveiling of this 
marker and delivered an address on Elijah Clark and his 
Republic in Milledgeville to the Nancy Hart Chapter, 
D. A. R.) Markers were also placed at Fort Defiance and 
Fort Advance. The Shoulderbone Treaty can be found in 
Watkins Digest pp. 779,80,-81. This treaty was secured in 
1786, soon after Greene County was formed. This was 
why the Indians hated Greene County and burned and 
massacred the citizens. 

17. UNION POINT: Union Point was first known as Thorn¬ 
ton’s Cross Roads, then as Scruggsville for a blacksmith by 
the name of Scruggs, and then as Union Point as it was 
on the junction of the main line of the Ga. railroad and 
Athens branch. Here lived the Thorntons, Harts, Bryans, 
Sibleys, Carltons and other prominent families. Up until 
the 1830’s it was called Thornton’s Crossroads and it was 
incorporated. Wayside Inn was located here during the 
War Between the States and now there is a historic mark- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


69 


er which tells the story. Some people say that one crew of 
railroad builders from Augusta met another crew from 
Scruggsville to form the union of the rails and that they 
named it Union Point. At this writing, 1939, the old Red¬ 
mond Thornton house is still standing and is probably the 
oldest house now in Greene County, (moved to Atlanta 
1960.) (See Homes.”) 

The postoffice here was opened in 1839 and W. P. Law- 
son was first Postmaster. (Athens Banner of April 20, 
1839) The great Buffalo Lick where the surveyors started 
in marking the boundary lines of land ceded by the Indians 
at the Augusta Treaty of 1773 is also on the highway 
between Union Point and Jefferson Hall. Union Point is 
a progressive town of about 1500 inhabitants and very 
fine people. 

Union Point, was a town boasting of mineral ores such 
as iron and copper as well as gold. There in 1897 we find 
the bottling works, knitting mill, steam grist mill and 
ginnery. There in 1897 was a large brick yard. 

“The Terraces,” was the name of the large hotel, the 
Union Point Academy had Dr. J. H. Bailey as the Prin¬ 
cipal. There were Methodist and Baptist churches and 
the Presbyterians met in these churches too. 

Hon. John C. Hart was Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit 
and an outstanding citizen as was Hon. Miles W. Lewis 
in 1894 and a graduate of the University of Ga. in 1877. 
Here were handsome homes, schools and churches. 

The Herald-Journal of Oct. 1, 1897 carried pictures of 
other outstanding citizens. County Judge, Hon. W. M. 
Weaver who was a gallant soldier of the Confederacy and 
a Captain. He was elected Mayor of Greensboro seven 
times consecutively. In 1875 he edited the Herald-Journal 
and was a prominent Mason. 

Columbus C. Oliver, Hon. James B. Park, Sr. was a man 
of executive ability and a leader in that day. Greene 
County’s Board of Education members were: Henry W. 
Jernagin, C. C. Davison, J. V. Thomas, James L. Smith, 


70 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


T. A. Branch. There were pictures of County School Com¬ 
missioner R. B. Smith, J. H. H. Brown Treas. of the 
County and Miles Copeland, Tax Receiver. 

18. SILOAM was a progressive community and in the same 
issue of the Herald-Journal of 1897 this town was one of 
well-to-do and thrifty farmers. There were cotton gins, 
large stores and fertile lands abounding. Siloam was lo¬ 
cated six miles east of Greensboro and seven miles from 
the junction of the Athens branch and main lines of the 
Georgia railroad. There were 300 people living here and 
some lands were advertised from $12 to $20 an acre. The 
Methodists and Baptists had handsome churches here and 
the Presbyterians had a new church building. 

A fine school was under the supervision of Prof. Tal- 
fourd Smith. Some of the business men were: James T. 
Fillingim, John T. Boswell, E. J. Stanley. 

19. LIBERTY, was a historical part of Greene County and 
a farming section where, cattle, grain, cotton and fruits 
flourished. Land sold from $3 to $10 an acre. Cotton was 
the main crop and the town was advertised as being free 
from malaria. (1897) There was water power on the near¬ 
by river, there were two good schools, and two churches, 
a post office with two daily mails, three gins, three grist 
mills and many stores. 

20. SCULL SHOALS: This place was settled in 1784 and 
figured in numerous massacres by the Indians. Fort Clark 
was built in 1794 where Georgia’s first paper mill was 
built, the first cotton gin, and the first cotton factory in 
1834. Here was the home of Governor Peter Early and 
this was the second largest village in Greene County at the 
close of the War Between the States. There was a grist 
mill, a flour mill, several stores, a postoffice, a Baptist 
church and more than 500 people. (Acts of Ga. Legisla¬ 
ture, Adiel Sherwood, Geo. White, and other historians) 

21. GREENSBORO :The county seat of Greene County and 
named as such in the Act creating Greene County on Feb¬ 
ruary 3, 1786. It was named for Nathaniel Greene, gov- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


71 


erned first by a board of Commissioners appointed by the 
Legislature. This was designated as the site of the Uni¬ 
versity of Ga. It was burned by the Indians in the summer 
of 1787 and incorporated as a town in 1803. The postoffice 
was established in 1792 and the first term of Superior 
Court was held in Jan. 1790 with Judge George Walton 
presiding, who was a signer of the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence. 

The present courthouse was built in 1849 and remodeled 
in 1937. The Augusta Chronicle tells of the burning of the 
second courthouse and jail in 1807 by a runaway Negro. 
The old rock jail now standing was built that same year. 
The third courthouse was a framed building and stood very 
near where the present courthouse now stands. The first 
permanent public improvements, water works and sewer 
system started in 1898 under Mayor E. W. Copelan, T. B. 
Rice and J. E. Armor, Aldermen. The first municipally 
owned public school was built in 1908 under Dr. J. H. 
Gheesling, Mayor and Aldermen, T. B. Rice, B. J. Mc¬ 
Whorter, J. B. Park, E. G. Pennington and J. H. Mc¬ 
Whorter. Other units have since been added and a $35,000 
gymnasium and auditorium. In 1939 the Mayor is C. E. 
Robinson, Aldermen, J. S. Callaway, Howard Connally, T. 
Hamp McGibony, R. C. Townsend and Carey Williams. 
This administration junked the old inadequate steam elec¬ 
tric plant and brought in Ga. Power Co. electricity, paved 
the streets, improved the town, schools, waterworks, clean¬ 
ed up the town and encouraged improvements of every 
kind. 

22. WHITE PLAINS: This was called Fort Neil soon after 
Greene Co. was settled and later took its name from the 
sandy soil of the land. Settlers moved north of the first set¬ 
tlement to springs to get water and the White Plains Aca¬ 
demy was incorporated in 1834, and the town before that. 
The town has always been noted for its culture and fine 
citizenship and that is still true. 

White Plains is situated in the southeastern portion of 
Greene Co. twelve miles from the county seat of Greens- 


72 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


boro. It was the terminus of the Union Point and White 
Plains railroad a distance of fourteen miles. Crops raised 
there as stated by “The Herald-Journal,” issue of Oct. 1, 
1897 says that cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye and potatoes 
were grown there in large qualities. The fruits were peach¬ 
es, pears, apples and grapes. White Plains boasted of the 
Dawson Institute at that time under Prof. J. W. Glen as¬ 
sisted by Misses Orr, Helen Kilpatrick and Mrs. E. B. Ho¬ 
ward. 

Some of the business men there in 1897 were: Randolph 
Tappan, Jr. and T. C. Holden, Z. T. Walker, Rev. J. H. 
Kilpatrick, Rev. B. E. L. Timmons, W. T. Rodgers, J. R. 
Marchman, A. S. Smith, J. D. Anderson, Hillsman and 
Gorham. There were two physicians; Dr. I. D. Moore and 
Dr. C. C. King. There were W. M. Tappan and son in the 
mercantile business. This was at that time an enterprising 
town, with brick business houses, manufacturing of wagons, 
buggies, road carts and all vehicles, woodwork, coffins and 
caskets. 

The climate was advertised as being ideal and industry 
was being urged to locate there. 

23. JEFFERSON HALL; This was the name given the home 
built by Lemuel Green and which is still standing a little 
more than a mile east of Union Point to the right of paved 
highway number 12. Quite a village sprang up here when 
the Ga. railroad was built and it was the terminus for 
several years. There were several stores, an Inn, postoffice, 
warehouse and other buildings. Freight for Greensboro, 
Athens, Madison and Covington is said to have been dis¬ 
charged at Jefferson Hall. 

24. PENFIELD, was the cradle of Mercer University. It is 
seven miles to the north of Greensboro, and here in this ob¬ 
scure village much of the history of the Baptist church of 
Georgia has been written. Here the famous University of 
the Georgia Baptists was founded and here the great 
Jesse Mercer sleeps on the old college campus. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


73 


In 1829 when the Ga. Baptist Convention met in Mil- 
ledgeville, it was announced that Joseph Penfield, of Sa¬ 
vannah, a deacon in the church had given the sum of $2,500 
on condition that an equal amount be raised. This com¬ 
mittee was named to suggest a plan of action: Thomas 
Cooper, H. O. Wyer and J. H. T. Kilpatrick. They asked 
that a like amount be pledged and in fifteen minutes the 
amount necessary was raised. A Committee purchased from 
James Redd 450 acres seven miles north of Greensboro. 

Dr. Billington Sanders was a young, well educated mini¬ 
ster and was engaged to act as Principal. Under his super¬ 
vision the wilderness was cleared, temporary quarters pro¬ 
vided and on the second Monday in January 1833, a man¬ 
ual school at Penfield was formally opened. Other instruc¬ 
tors were Ira O. McDaniel, J. F. Hillyer, J. W. Attaway, 
W. D. Cowdry, A. Williams, and S. P. Sanford. John 
Lumpkin, the father of Gov. Wilson Lumpkin was a mem¬ 
ber of the executive committee under whom the school was 
established. 

Penfield, was the name given to the locality in honor of 
Josiah Penfield of Savannah who gave the original bequest, 
the school itself was named for Jesse Mercer, who was 
the guiding light in its development and at his death re¬ 
ceived through his will a sizable amount of money. Dr. 
Sanders remained as head of the school for six years. He 
organized the work on a solid foundation. In 1837 the 
school was changed to Mercer University from Mercer 
Institute, a charter was obtained from the legislature, and a 
fund of $100,000 was raised among the Georgia Baptists 
with which to give it a permanent endowment. 

Three young men graduated from Mercer in 1841, Mal¬ 
colm Johnson, Benjamin F. Thorpe and Dr. A. R. Well¬ 
born. Dr. Adiel Sherwood in 1840 became the head of the 
new Theological Department. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War the Senior class en¬ 
tered the Confederate army to a man, most of the trustees 
were at the front, and the school struggled along until 


74 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Sherman invaded the State, then was forced to close its 
doors. 

The State was so utterly prostrated from the War and 
more so from the hated Reconstruction, that it was seven 
or eight years before the school was reopened at Macon, 
Ga. 

Some of the first Presidents were: Rev. Billington Sand¬ 
ers, Rev. Otis Smith, Rev. John L. Dagg, D.D., Rev. 
Nathaniel Crawford, D.D., Rev. H. H. Tucker, D.D., 
Rev. Archibald Battle, D.D., Rev. G. A. Nunnally, D.D., 
Pinckney D. Pollock, LL.D., Rev. S. Y. Jameson, D.D. 

The little village of Penfield goes on, and lives in the 
memory of the past and its influence in having mothered 
a great university. (See map of Penfield) 


GREENSBORO GEORGIA HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE 
THREE YEARS BEFORE GEORGE WASHINGTON 
WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 

STATES. 

Governors’ Letter Book, 1786-1789 (Nov. 15, 1787) 

To His Excellency the President of Congress. 

15 Novem. 1787. 


Sir 


I do myself the honor to enclose to your Excellency a Report of 
a Committee of the General Assembly of this State respecting the 
Creek Indians, it so fully informs your Excellency of the unavoidable 
necessity there is of a War with that Nation that little is left for me 
to say on the subject. In my letter to our Delegates of the 9th of 
August I informed them of the murders committed by the Indians 
(and by their it appears the letter was laid before Congress) since 
which time our frontiers have been the scene of blood and ravages, 
they have killed 31 of our Citizens, wounded twenty and taken 
four prisoners, they have burnt the Court house and Town of 
Greenesville (Greensboro) in the County of Greene and a number 
of other houses in different parts of the Country. The Assembly 
fully convinced that the State never can have a secure and lasting 
peace with that pedfidious Nation until they have severely felt the 
effects of war, have ordered 3000 men to be raised, and given the 
executive power to call forth 1500 more should the first number not 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


75 


be adequate, the arming and equiping these Troops will be attended 
with such expense that the aid of the Union will be required in ad¬ 
dition to our own exertions, and I flatter myself the United States 
will grant such assistance as will enable us to prosecute the War 
with vigor and establish us in the blessings of peace. 

I would also take the liberty of remarking that I have reason to 
think the Creek Indians are supplied with arms and ammunition 
from the Spanish Government of West Florida, and wheter(sic) it 
may not be proper for Congress to remonstrate against such sup¬ 
plies being granted them whilst engaged in a War with us— 

Signed— Geo. Mathews. 


George Washington had not been elected President of the 
United States when the above letter was written by Governor 
Mathews. John Jay was President of the Continental Congress 
at that time, and what ever action was taken in the matter by 
Congress, was probably under his direction. Washington was 
first elected President in 1789, and again 1793. 

Practically all of the outrages referred to in Governor 
Mathews’ letter occured in Greene county, which laid broad¬ 
side to the Creek Indians’ territory for almost one hundred 
miles, and were separated only by the Oconee and Appalachee 
rivers. 

Governor Mathews reference to the burning of the Court 
house in “Greenesville” was simply a “slip of the pen,” he 
meant to write Greensboro. 

The lots that were to be sold off to citizens were laid 
out in fifteen (15) other city blocks, and were within the area 
bounded on the East by Walnut St. on the West by Laurel 
Avenue, on the South by Elm St. on the North by Greene St. 
This however, did not include all of the land set apart for the 
town of Greensboro. Streets were laid out and named by the 
Commissions appointed to survey the town and extended 
through the 1020 acres set apart. The original town line ex¬ 
tended across Richland creek on the West from about where 
the new bridge is being built to considerably above where the 
Athens Highway crosses the creek. At that point the line nar¬ 
rowed in and did not cross Richland creek, but continued up it 
some distance and included practically all of the Starr and Ew¬ 
ing lands. The East line did not go as far as Poll-Bridge branch, 


76 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


but seems to have taken in most of “Canan” and extended to 
about the corner of Dr. Gheesling’s pecan grove. 

There was little or no demand for the town lots outside 
of a comparatively small area, and much of the suburban land 
was sold off for farming purposes. None of the land had 
been laid out for streets were ever sold by the State. Many of 
these streets that extended in the undeveloped areas were per¬ 
mitted closed under contract with the Mayor and Councilmen, 
and have caused some litigation in order to open them up 
when needed. All of the land in the streets of Greensboro now 
and as it was originally laid out, belong to the State of Geor¬ 
gia and the statute of limitation does not run against the 
State. This means that any street within the limits of the city 
of Greensboro that has a dead-end, may be opened by the city 
when ever needed, and legal resistance can not prevent it. 

GREENSBORO’S FIRST POSTOFFICE 

Quoting from The Augusta Chronicle of April 28, 1792: 

“Timothy Pickering, Postmaster General, stated that in Georgia, 
the mail would go from Augusta to Washington (in Wilkes County) 
thence to Greensboro and Georgetown, to Augusta, once in two 
weeks. 

The mail to leave Augusta every other Thursday at four o’clock 
in the morning, and arrive at Washington the same day, and com¬ 
plete the circuit no the evening of Saturday.” 

“Savannah to Newport Bridge, and Sunbury, and back to Savan¬ 
nah, once every two weeks. ...” 

This constituted Georgia’s Postal service in the spring of 
1792; and Greensboro was one of the seven Postoffices served 
by Uncle Sam, in that year, in the youngest of the thirteen ori¬ 
ginal states. 

In 1825, when Young F. Gresham was postmaster, the 
salary was $294.71. The present salary is $2400.00. (1937) 

This office was established under the name of Greens- 
borough in October, 1792. The available records do not 
show the exact date of establishment. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


77 


DATE APPOINTED 


POSTMASTER 


John B. Oliver 
James B. Oliver 
Ezekiel E. Park 
John Houghton 
William W. Strain 
Robert Dale 
Wiley Gresham 
Young F. Gresham 
Thomas W. Grimes 
William L. Strain 
William H. Morrison 
James W. Godkin 
Henry C. Thornton 
James W.. Godkin 
Green H. Thompson 
Joel F. Thornton 
Martha H. Clayton 
Julia F. Clayton 


April 23, 1793 
January 1, 1794 
October 1, 1796 
October 1, 1801 
February 20, 1804 
April 1, 1804 
June 6, 1813 
October 23, 1817 
July 6, 1825 
January 22, 1839 
June 20, 1860 
November 1, 1860 
May 11, 1869 
March 17, 1870 
November 4, 1881 
March 30, 1886 
August 22, 1889 
October 23, 1889 


The name of this office 
February 2, 1894. 


Miss Julia Foster 

Robert W. Branch 

Joel F. Thornton 

William F. Bryant 

James L. Brown 

Foster D. Smith (Acting) 

Foster D. Smith 

Charles H. Crumbley (Acting) 

Charles H. Crumbley 

Orian Moorhead 


was changed to Greensboro, 


February 2, 1894 
January 25, 1898 
February 7, 1902 
April 21, 1910 
December 19, 1914 
January 19, 1918 
June 6, 1918 
September 28, 1922 
September 9, 1923 
February 3, 1937 


The present Federal-owned Post Office was completed in time 
to handle the Christmas mail in 1938, and was dedicated by the 
Honorable Paul Brown, Congressman from the tenth Congressional 
District (Ga.), in October, 1939, and whosei untiring efforts made 
our beautiful Federal building possible. 

The mural that adorns the North side of the lobby is described 
in the attached clipping from the A,ugusta Chronicle, and the scene 
depicted is historically correct. 

The photostat of a letter mailed in Augusta, Ga., on October 
7, 1914, was promptly received by Postmaster James L. Brown. The 
sketch was drawn by Professor P. P. Carter, a noted artist who lived 
in Greensboro for many years. The sketch was drawn from memory 
and is a good likeness of Postmaster James L. Brown. 

In 1825, when Young F. Gresham was postmaster, the salary 
was $294.71. The present salary is $2400.00. (1937) 

In the old days the postmaster not only furnished the building 
that housed the office, but paid his help, bought his fuel, swept the 
office—whenever it was swept, and “cussing” was his major pay. 


78 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


After the “e” was left out of Greenesboro, “Uncle Sam” began 
furnishing some eoctra help and increased the postmaster’s pay. Now, 
the postmaster is not only paid a decent salary but is furnished three 
clerks, one fireman, one charman, one mail messenger, one village 
carrier, and one substitute carrier, and all paid by “Uncle Sam.” 

T. B. Rice, 

Historian for Greene County. 

James W. Godkin served as Postmaster under the Post¬ 
master General of the Confederate States, and resumed his 
duties under “Uncle Sam” at the close of hostilities, and up 
to May 11, 1869 a wonderful tribute to the old man. 

Theoretically, the appointment of Postmaster, for the 
smaller offices, was political patronage of Congressmen; but 
as a matter of fact, under most Republican administrations, 
the office of Postmaster was bought and sold, and “the long¬ 
est pole got the persimmon.” 

In Georgia, the proceeding was for some “Lily White” 
Republican to head the State Republican organization; and he 
in turn, appointed one of the “colored brethren” in each coun¬ 
ty in the state; and it was necessary to get the endorsement of 
the County committeeman for the office sought. And, in order 
to get this, the applicant had to “sugar” the committeeman. 
This “sugaring” process continued so long as the office was 
held. Congressmen knew this was going on but they were pow¬ 
erless to put a stop to it. 

During the occupancy of any appointive Federal office, 
the incumbent was called on, and all too often, by the “Lily 
White” State Republican Committeeman, and asked to “salt 
the kitty” for educational purposes; and this is where his 
“graft” came from. 

I am not blaming the Postmasters who secured their ap¬ 
pointment under this plan, as many clean officials had to pay 
tribute to this form of “carpetbagism.” 

Technically, Civil Service does away with this form of 
political rotteness; but legal technicalities can remove the best 
of public servants from office, and the “In’s” in Washington, 
know how to neutralize the Civil Service. 


79 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Top—Mural in the Post Office in Greensboro depicting the burning of 
Greensboro by the Indians in 1787. In the center is the P. O. building. 
Lowter right Dr. T. B. Rice and the lower left is Judge Robert M. 

Williamson. 











80 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Congressman Paul Brown, than who Georgia has no bet¬ 
ter, came to Greensboro on November 11, 1938, and dedicated 
the new Postoffice, Federal Building in a manner befitting 
the occasion; was the recipient of many compliments. After 
the dedication a delightful barbecue dinner was served under 
the auspices of the Greensboro Chapter of the American Le¬ 
gion of World War Veterans. 


Mural decoration for the New Postoffice. 

The Treasury Department has authorized a mural decora¬ 
tion for the new Postoffice-Federal Building; and the burning 
of Greensboro by the Indians, has been chosen as the subject 
for the painting. The Treasury Department has also authorised 
the artist to use the original spelling, GREENESBOROUGH, 
since it is to be an historical picture. 


The Greensboro Postoffice now Second Class. 

The Greensboro Postoffice was raised from third to sec¬ 
ond class on July, 1, 1938. This means that the salary of the 
Postmaster and all of his clerks was increased. Greensboro 
has a Postoffice-Federal Building that will meet its every need 
for many years to come. The Postoffice has an able, courteous 
force of employees, three Rural routes, three Star routes-cne 
to Atlanta-,one City carrier, and a force of two men to take 
care of the building. Union Point Postoffice was also raised 
to second class. Thanks to Congressman Paul Brown, Secretary 
of the Treasury, Hon. Henry Morganthou, Jr., Postmaster 
General James J. Farley, and the administration that made 
the new building possible. 


GREENSBORO’S OLD POST OFFICE CABINET 

This old Post Office cabinet was used to hold letters and 
papers for the patrons of the office. There were no lock-boxes 
and the mail was distributed alphabetically. All patrons call¬ 
ed for, or sent for their mail. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


81 


The cabinet has 140 pigeon holes. The mail for the people 
who lived in town was put in the pigeon holes on the left, and 
those who lived out in the county, but got their mail here, 
were placed in the right hand section. 

In all probability, this cabinet was made when the Post 
Office was moved into the left-hand room of the Courthouse. 
This was in the year 1849 and William L. Strain was Post Mas¬ 
ter. He was succeeded by William H. Morrison on June 20, 
months; he was succeeded by James Godkin on November 1, 
1860. Mr. Godkin, served under the Postmaster General 
of the United States until the office was taken over by the 
Confederate Government and served until May 11, 1869. 
Therefore, it is safe to say that, every letter that came to this 
office during the existence of the Southern Confederacy, found 
its way into the pigeon holes of this old cabinet. 

Henry C. Thornton succeeded James W. Godkin as Post 
Master on May 11, 1869; and he was succeeded by James W. 
Godkin; Judge Godkin served until March 17, 1870. 

17, 1870. 

GREENSBORO’S Post Office was established in Octo¬ 
ber, 1792. John B. Oliver was its first Post Master, and all 
mail came through the Augusta Post Office via: Washington, 
Ga., and reached Greensboro on Friday of every-other-week. 

The appearance of the mail-rider was an event, in those 
days. Postage was high, usually 12)4 cents for a single sheet, 
and each additional sheet was taxed 12)4 cents. There were 
no postage stamps until 1849. In small offices, like Greensboro, 
the Post Master computed the cost, wrote the amount collect¬ 
ed, on the corner of the letter, which was folded and sealed 
with wax, and then pocketed the amount collected. All cancel¬ 
lations went to the Post Master, he received no salary from 
“Uncle Sam.” 

For many, many years all letters written to our town 
carried the orginal spelling-GREENESBOROUGH, and the 
cancellations were spelled the same way. Later, many people 
shortened the name to-GREENESBORO and the Post Office 


82 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Department seem to have relished the abbreviation, and on 
February 2, 1894, “Uncle Sam’s” hirelings seem to have for¬ 
gotten that our town was named for General Nathaniel Greene, 
and insulted his memory by dubbing his namesake, GREENS¬ 
BORO. Those who do not know the origin of the name are 
liable to conclude that our progressive, historic little city was 
named for turnipgreens or some other potlicker stuff. Shame 
on him who issued the order to defile the name of such a man 
as GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE . 

NEWS ITEMS OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED 
YEARS AGO 


More than one hundred years ago, GREENSBORO and 
GREENE COUNTY news was chronicled by the Athens 
Banner-Herald, “The Missionary,” a Mount Zion, Hancock 
County, newspaper, The Augusta Chronicle, the Milledgeville 
Recorder, and the Southern Banner, of Athens, Ga., and the 
following items were culled from old files of these papers: 


“To the Editor of the Augusta Chronicle”. 

Greensboro, Ga., April 2, 1803. 

Dear Sir: 

Nearly four months have passed since the arrival of a mail in 
Greensboro could have been certainly counted on. Sometimes w& 
get none at all, sometimes we get it out of time going forward, some¬ 
times we get it out of time coming backward, but seldom have we 
got it both coming and going. To my knowledge it has stopped in 
Greensboro, and I hesitate not it stops and tacks about occasionally 
at every postoffice between Augusta and Louisville.” 

“In a word there has never been such a steady succession of 
tardiness since the establishment of a post-office in Greensboro.” 

“Can the defect be with the Postmaster General? No, it is with 
those poor tackeys and their owner, and I hesitate not in saying the 
post-master the Undertaker an accountable being”. 


Under date of Friday, Feb. 20, 1821, The Mount Zion Mission¬ 
ary says: naming a long list of agents throughout Georgia, was A. H. 
Scott, Greensboro, and Samuel Finley, Grantville, Greene County. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


83 


Note: Grantville was where we now know as Daniel’s Spring and 
was on the mail route from Augusta to Greensboro via 
Washington. 


An “Ad” in The Missionary reads: “Mch 11, 1822. Every issue of 
The Missionary after Jan. 19, 1822, for three months, carried notice 
that permission had been requested to sell two or more sections of 
land belonging to the estate of Peter Early, for the benefit of heirs”. 

(Signed) GUARDIAN, but no name. 
(Probably, Mrs. Adiel Sherwood). 


Under the subject of TRANSPORTATION we find this in The 

Southern Banner of March 12, 1839: 

“Six horses attached to an Athens to Augusta stagecoach ran 
away in Greensboro and turned over the coach, injuring three pas¬ 
sengers; one of them is feared lamed for life. Mr. Gallaway, the 
driver, was severely bruised.” 

Note: The Athens branch of the Georgia Railroad had not been 
completed at that time. 


The same paper carried an advertisement by the U. S. Postoffice 
Department asking for bids to carry mail, and says: “Mail from 
Augusta comes in railroad cars 82 miles.” 


Southern Banner of Aug. 9, 1839, says: “Stagecoach line Athens 
to Greensboro to connect with the Georgia Railroad.” 


Under the heading “OUT OF TOWN”, The Banner of Sept. 5, 
1844, reads: 

“The Courthouse at Madison, Georgia, burned Sept. 1st, believed 
to have caught fire from a lighted cigar thrown carelessly by some 
person who attended the meeting of the Clay Club (Henry Clay) the 
night of August 31st.” 


Note: Politics aroused the gentry then just as it does now, but we 
had no automobiles, radios and other means of reaching the 
voters quickly; and only statesmen with established records 
sought public office. 







84 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Fourth courthouse in Greensboro built in 1848-49 (in use) 






















HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


85 


COURTHOUSE 

Referring to my previous comment that I could find no 
record of a celebration and dedication of the old Courthouse 
when it was completed in 1849, now comes Judge L. H. Branch 
who says he has positive proof that the occasion was celebrated 
with a great barbecue dinner, much speaking by distinguished 
lawyers, and a great ball that extended far into the night, and 
that Miss Nancy Bickers led the dance. Now I am not claiming 
that the Judge was there in person although, he is no spring 
chicken. However, he was fortunate enough to have as his 
guest some years ago, none other than Mrs. Godkin who took 
part in the festivities. Mrs. Godkin was the widow of Dr. God- 
kin, and the daughter-in-law of the old Postmaster who was 
also one of the Justices of the Greene County Inferior Court. 
Mrs. Godkin pictured the scene clearly to Judge Branch, there¬ 
fore, she must be admitted as a competent witness. Miss Nancy 
Bickers was an aunt of Mr. Carl Bickers and Mrs. W. H. 
Prior. 


Judge James W. Godkin 

And now comes Judge L. H. Branch with a copy of The 
National Geographic Magazine published in December, 1918. 
P. 526 has a picture entitled. “An Irishman of the Old School. 
It portrays a typical Irishman, long black coat, top hat, stick and 
all, and the Judge says, it is a perfect picture of Judge Godkin 
whom he remembers distinctly. Judge Branch adds, “The old 
Postmaster always rode his old white horse from his home to 
his office; and, on Sunday mornings, after he had distributed 
the mail he would arrange the letters, stick them in his saddle¬ 
bags, get on his horse and ride over town and deliver them. 
There was no city dlivery then, but Judge Godkin went “Uncle 
Sam” one better, and delivered the mail without fee or the hope 
of reward. 


86 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GREENE’S FIRST RAILROAD AND ROADS 

A mud hole in Greene County is said to be responsible 
for the building of the Georgia railroad here. Cotton mill 
machinery shipped from England to Augusta was being haul¬ 
ed from there to Athens by six mule wagon teams and as they 
got on the eastern side of Greene County the wagons became 
hopelessly mired down in the mud and it was not until the 
spring sunshine dried the mud that they could get out. 

As a result of this experience the promoters of the factory 
applied for a charter in 1833 to build a railroad from Augusta 
to Athens. The charter was granted by the Georgia Legisla¬ 
ture. 

As much as a railroad was needed it wasn’t easy to place 
it, as many people objected to the noise or the smoke or the 
danger of fire. Lexington wouldn’t let the road come within 
four miles of their town and many landowners didn’t want 
their huge cotton fields trespassed on. Gwn Allison a promi¬ 
nent citizen and cousin of Andrew Jackson’s was the bitterest 
opponent of all. He lived halfway between Greensboro and 
Union Point and when the surveyors came in, he took his 
shot gun and threatened to shoot the first one to drive a stake 
on his property. He would not accept any price for the right 
of way and finally he was locked in jail for contempt of court. 

The old man never got over this humiliation, he was 
deeply hurt and to his dying day would never touch the money 
offered for the right of way. He left a considerable sum to 
the schools of the county, although not as much as was set up 
because of the war and the effect on the currency. 

After due time the railroad was finished as far as Jeffer¬ 
son Hall, nine miles east of Greensboro. This gave a boost to 
the village for wagons of cotton and produce were brought 
from Eatonton, Sparta, Madison, Athens and Covington to 
be loaded on the trains. These same wagons bought supplies 
for their farms to make the return trip. 

Thomas Hart, who was a neighbor of Allison’s helped 
the railroad to get started and the train made courtesy stops 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


87 


at his home. The first passenger train through stopped there 
and the passengers and the crew helped to celebrate a wedding 
in this home by eating the wedding breakfast and seeing the 
wedding rites performed. (Oak Grove) 

The next part built on to this railroad was the line to 
Marthasville, (Atlanta) and later the line to Athens was com¬ 
pleted. The junction of these roads was called Union Point. 
At Scruggville, later known as Thornton’s Crossroads there 
was wood, water and repairs ready for the trains and a place 
for passengers to eat and change trains. 

There were only two other railroads operating in the 
U. S. A. when this railroad started operations. 

It was against the law to run the train at night as the 
noise would keep people, cattle and horses awake. The train 
crew spent one night in Augusta and the next in Greene County. 

The cross ties were six feet apart and the rails were made 
of tough well seasoned wood with a three inch iron rail nailed 
on top. The first cars betweet Union Point and Athens were 
drawn by horses. The first engine put on to pull these cars was 
called the “Firefly”, because the fire and sparks did fly when 
the cords of wood were burned in the engine. At Woodville 
great cords of wood were stacked by the station for the train 
to load on, and that is how the town was named Woodville. 

And so the great mud hole was responsible for Greene 
County getting the first railroad in Georgia and perhaps this 
road going into Marthasville started that town on its way up 
and was later named Atlanta. 

Railroad fares were five cents a mile and a speed of 
fifteen miles an hour was good. It took eight hours to go from 
Greensboro to Augusta, about 85 miles. There was a thrill 
when the train pulled into the stations in Greene County. One 
could see the shining twin strands of steel which linked the 
village to the outside world. There was always a cluster of 
people waiting for the train, whittling and talking over the 
weather, politics and crops. Some man would pull a big gold 
watch out of a vest pocket and state authoritatively, “Time for 


88 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


old 48 to be coming in”. About that time a column of smoke 
could be seen in the distance and old dependable 48 would 
come puffing up the tracks with the huge wheels charging, the 
engine pulling the tender then the baggage car and next the 
coaches. 

The engineer was a hero to every boy and girl in the 
village, as he sat like a king at the throttle and would wave 
back a majestic gloved hand as he would glide by. 

Strangers getting off the train were subjected to curious 
stares and the station agent always had a confidental word 
with the conductor before the train pulled out. There were 
packages and bags and the depot agent felt very important 
placing them in the old musty smelling depot. 

Another way of transportation was the stagecoach which 
came into Greensboro from Athens, Washington, Sparta and 
Eatonton. Stops were made along the way to change horses, 
and let passengers get meals and lodging. There was much 
excitement when runaway horses tore down the street with the 
unwieldy coach lurching behind them. These coaches made about 
five or six miles an hour for about ten cents a mile. 

It is hard for the young to conceive of this slow method 
of travel in the jet age in which they live. 

Strange as it may seem the first proposition to build a 
railroad in the state of Georgia met with serious opposition. 
Old records of the Ga. Railroad Bank and Trust Co. sent James 
Camak and a Mr. Williams around the state to work up inter¬ 
est in the project. Conferences were held in most towns and an 
agreement was reached in Augusta whereby the railroad would 
terminate there and not go to Savannah, so as not to compete 
with the boat trade on the Savannah river. 

The War Department sent two engineers down to investi¬ 
gate, and soon, the road was to run from Augusta to Athens 
with a branch road from Union Point to Greensboro. Then 
it was learned that a state road from Chattanooga, Tenn. 
through Ga. was coming and would come by Atlanta. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


89 


For a number of years Athens was the headquarters for 
the Ga. railroad and all of its business meetings but the place 
was later changed to Augusta. The work of actual construction 
was started May 1833 and by 1837 trains were coming as far 
as Greensboro running about 12 miles per hour twice a day. 
One article in the newspaper said that night was made for 
sleep and not for traveling, and trains did not run at night 
for years. 

The railroad reached Greensboro and J. Edgar Thompson 
was the chief engineer for the Ga. railroad. He bought a home 
in Greensboro and remained there many years. As the road 
pushed on to Marthasville, Thompson sold his home to Josiah 
Davis the clockmaker. In the corner of his yard there was a 
small two room house which was the first ticket office in 
Greensboro, used later by Davis to assemble his clocks. 

It was really that mudhole in Greene County that caused 
the building of the first railroad in Ga., and the third in the 
United States. James Camak, William Williams, William Dear- 
ing and others were building the Princeton factory near Athens 
when the machinery which was very heavy was being moved 
from Savannah where ships had brought it from England by 
boat, by Augusta to Athens. This “rapid transit” method was 
by wagon teams of six mules each and took over a week. When 
they arrived on the muddy clay roads near Union Point these 
wagons, as I have said, bogged down in a mudhole and could 
not be extricated until the following spring. 

These men were exasperated at this state of affairs and 
a meeting held in James Camak’s library in Athens March 
10th 1834. He was made Pres, and the following were made 
directors of the Ga. Railroad Company. William Williams, 
William Dearing, James S. Williams, William R. Cunningham, 
Elizur D. Newton, Alexander B. Linton, John Nisbit, William 
Lumpkin, Henry B. Thompson, John A. Cobb, Absalum Janes, 
John Cunningham. 

After surveys and contacts were made an act of the Ga. 
Legislature in 1833 created the Georgia Railroad Company 
provided for the issuance of 15,000 shares of stock at $100.00 
per share. 


90 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Quoting from the Greensboro Herald Jan. 14, 1936 an 
article written by Henry Hardee and Charles Seaton from 
Savannah when they were in the 90’s said, “In 1844, night 
passenger service on the branch of the Ga. railroad from 
Union Point to Athens was drawn by horse cars for five night’s 
each week and on the sixth night a passenger coach was at¬ 
tached to a freight train drawn by the little steam engine called 
the “Firefly”.” 

The contractors for the building and grading of the Ga. 
railroad from Greensboro to the Oconee river were W.W.D. 
Weaver and William Cunningham from Greensboro, signed 
by them and engineer J. Edgar Thompson from the railroad. 
The timbers used for the track and the iron used for the rails 
were heavier than those used on the Athens branch. 

Dr. T. B. Rice procured a four foot section of the original 
track used during the “horse-drawn days”. W. B. Young of 
Bairdstown gave it to Dr. Rice. The timber was heart pine 
6x6 inches. The groove worn by the 3 1-2 x 3-4 inch iron was 
spiked to the timber and this shows plainly as there is still one 
spike in the timber. 

BOATS ON THE OCONEE 

In a news item from the Augusta Herald on April 18, 1812 
we find an article dealing with an inland navigation company 
on the Oconee River. 

“An election held in Greensboro on Monday the 6th of 
Jan. last the following persons were duly elected as directors 
of the Oconee Navigation Company to serve for the term of 
one year, viz: Sterling Grimes, Joseph Cooper, Ezekiel E. 
Park, Henry W. Todd, John Garner, Zachriah Sims and 
Thomas Terrell. 

At a meeting of the above directors they passed the fol¬ 
lowing resolutions, which in connection with the charter, form 
the fundamental laws for the government for the affairs of 
the company. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


91 


Resolved that the capital stock of the Oconee Navigating 
Company shall be $30,000, which stock shall be divided into 
shares and half shares. The sum of $25.00 shall constitute a 
whole share and the sum of $12.00 and fifty cents shall con¬ 
stitute a half share. (There were other resolutions) 

To The Public: 

The advantages resulting from inland navigation are too 
self evident to render a comment on them necessary. The carry¬ 
ing into effect the object contemplated by the foregoing charter, 
will not only be of the first importance to the community but 
will also furnish the capitalist with an opportunity of turning 
his money to advantage, as he will discover by referring to sec¬ 
tion 5 of the act of incorporation. 

The river has been minutely examined by a competent per¬ 
son, who has reported to the directors not only the practicabili¬ 
ty of obtaining good navigation thereon but that the obstruc¬ 
tions are much less formidable than have been generally con¬ 
jectured. 

Encouraged by the amount already subscribed for (viz; 
one-third of the capital), and relying confidently on the liberal 
patronage of a generous public, the directors will in the month 
of May next, descend the river for the purpose of examining 
each obstruction and determine the method of removing them; 
with the expectation of commencing their operations in the court 
of the ensuing summer. 

For the accomodation of the public, subscription papers 
are deposited with the editor of this paper, Mr. Denham of 
Darien, Col. D. McCormick of Dublin, Mr. Thomas of New 
London, Capt. Taylor of Sparta, H. Cox, of Clinton, Maj. 
Wilkins of Eatonton, Cunningham and David of Madison, Maj. 
George Moore of Oglethorpe County, Messers James Edwards 
and Co. of Washington and Wilkes Co. and Maj. Brown of 
Watkinville. 

By order of the directors, 

James H. Nickelson Sec. 

Oconee Navigation Co. 

Greensboro, Ga., April 1, 1812 


92 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The following constitutes the entire list of shareholders 
in the Oconee Navigation Company: 

Thomas Reid, Thomas Chivers, James Cunningham, Eli¬ 
jah Reid, William Reid, Ruben Weaver, James Holt, John 
Garner, Thomas Garner, William Garner, H. Hays, James 
Chivers, A. Gaston, Frederick Johnston, James Park for self 
and Jas. Park, Jos. Park, Jefferson Park, John Park, Wallen 
Park, Madison Park and Columbus Park, all of these names 
were spelled Parke), Richard Park, Robert Peek, Wily Bryan, 
Josiah Watkins, Joseph Cooper, J. D. Fannin, Raleigh Holt, 
Daniel Low, Robert White, William A. Dunham, Scott Cray, 
John Hunter, James Hamilton, George Street, John Ross, Wm. 
B. Holzendorf, Jesse Lester, James Troup, Benjamin S. Lamb, 
Derwitt & May, Thomas Stocks, Nicholas Lewis, Peter Early, 
Zachariah Sims, E. Park, John T. Daniel, Payton Smith, Jere¬ 
miah Early, George Irving, Jacobus Watts, Henry W. Todd, 
Thomas Crawford Jr., Benjamin More, John Bethune, James 
Turner, David Roberts, James Mulkey. 

Opposite the names of the Park boys appears this nota¬ 
tion: “Not entitled to vote.” The assumption is that they were 
not of age, and their father bought the shares in their names. 

Peter Early of Greene County was then Governor of Geor¬ 
gia (1818-15), and during that time the second War with 
England was fought and won. Governor Early placed the en¬ 
tire resourses of the State of Georgia at the disposal of the 
President of these United States, and in that way, he aided 
greatly in defeating the British. 

In order to encourage water-transportation, the Georgia 
Legislature appropriated money to remove rock and other ob¬ 
structions in the Oconee River; and mill-owners were required 
to dig mill races from the head of the falls instead of damming 
the river, and in this way, the channel was kept open. , 

The Oconee was a clear stream in those days, and much 
deeper than it is at present. There were great forests along the 
banks of the creeks and rivers, erosion had scarcely begun, and 
fish were abundant in all our streams. There were many shoals 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


93 


to be sure, but the volume of water was sufficient to float the 
flat-bottom boats over the shoals. 

There were few obstruction between Park’s mill and Scull 
Shoals; and it is doubtful if boats ever ran between Scull Shoals 
and Barnett Shoals, near Athens, however, an attempt was 
made in the late 1830’s, to convey a boat load of freight from 
Barnett Shoals to points in Florida; but was prevented from 
doing so by a dam across the river at Scull Shoals. This dam 
was built for the purpose of creating water-power to operate 
the Scull Shoals Cotton Factory. 

Templeton Reid was the man whom the United States 
Treasury Department authorized to coin gold money in Dah- 
lonega. In the 1830’s era “Uncle Sam” established his first 
mint for coining gold. If you happen to have any of these old 
Templeton Reid gold pieces tucked away in your trunk, you 
have a fortune and don’t know it. One $10.00 Templeton Reid 
gold piece turned up in Milledgeville a few years ago and is 
said to have been sold for $3,500.00. 

Speaking of gold being found in “them thar” hills of 
North Georgia, the discovery created a sensation similar to 
the “Gold Strike” in California in 1849 and poachers from 
the Carolinas and Tennessee flocked to that region in great 
numbers. Most of the mountain country was a public domain 
and belonged to the State of Georgia. In order to protect the 
gold deposits a Greene County man, Yelverton P. King was 
appointed custodian for the property, and through his efforts, 
the poachers were driven out—but not without resistance. 

The Oconee Navigation Company proved to be a failure 
and was abandoned sometime during the 1820’s. The charter 
was canceled and a number of toll-bridges were erected over 
the Oconee River. One at Scull Shoals, one at Park’s Mill, one 
at Long Shoals Factory, and perhaps, others above and below 
Milledgeville, 

Had Sidney Lanier cast his poetic eyes on the beautiful 
Oconee, he might have written a poem entitled the Song of the 
Oconee, to match the ‘Song of the Chattahoochee,” and he 


94 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


could have truthfully said that the soil from Hall enriched the 
Marshes of Glynn. The Oconee and Ocmulgee unite to form 
the Altamaha, and the rich soil around Darien came from 
north-east and central Georgia. 

Speaking of Georgia’s most beloved poet, Sidney Lanier, 
the writer sat on his knee many times when he was a school 
teacher in Prattville, Ala. The handsome face of Sidney Lanier 
was indelibly pictured on his childish memory, and he never 
hears a flute that he does not recall that face. Sidney Lanier 
spent many week-ends in my father’s home, and they were close, 
personal friends. (T. B. Rice) 

GREENE COUNTY’S FIRST ROADS 

The first record of road-building in Greene County ap¬ 
pears in Book 1. Minutes of Greene Superior Court, Chief 
Justice George Walton presiding. 

Justice Walton had personal knowledge of road conditions 
and the woeful lack of roads at that time, therefore, when 
Court convened in Greensboro in July 1790, he did not recom¬ 
mend, but ordered that certain roads be built. And his orders 
read as follows: 

“Ordered” That a Road be continued from a Road already 
laid out from the Wilkes Court House leading toward Greene 
County Court House already open to the Greene County line 
crossing the Ogeechee near the head and that Robert Greer, 
Joshua Houghton and Thomas Houghton esq. be appointed 
commissioners.” 

The Greene-Wilkes county line at that time, was about 
where Route No. 12 passes under the Athens branch of the 
Georgia Railroad; and in all probability, the road that was 
built by Robert Greer and the Messers Houghton, following 
the present highway to just this side of the old Hart place, now 
owned by Mr. N. O. Williams. At that point, it turned to the 
left, coming this way, and came by the old Gwinn Allison place 
(now owned by Mrs. John T. Boswell), and by the Gheesling 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


95 


Pecan grove and on to Greensboro along the road used at pre¬ 
sent. 

His Honor, Chief Justice George Walton, had to travel 
through that section as he made the rounds of his circuit, and 
the Greene Superior Court always followed immediately after 
the Wilkes Superior Court. 

And, it is worth mentioning here, that Supreme Court 
Justices H. Osborne and George Walton formulated the rules 
governing court procedures in the State of Georgia; and these 
rules are recorded in Vol. 1, Minutes of Greene Superior Court. 

The next road-building order issued on the same day, 
reads as follows: 

“Ordered, That a road be built from the lower end of 
Greene County on the Ogeechee to join the road from Mit¬ 
chell’s Bridge to the Rock Landing at the Piney Woods House 
and that George Bagby and Richard Lockhart be appointed 
commissioners.” 

“Ordered, That a Road be built from Thweat’s Bridge on 
the Ogeechee River the best and direct way to the Rock 
Landing that is as far as the County line, and that Math 
Rabun, Jesse Pope, Charles Abercrombie and John Mitchell 
be appointed commissioners for the same.” 

“Ordered, That a Road be built from Thweat’s Bridge 
by Powell Creek Meeting-house out to the Oconee River the 
best and most suitable way for the Shoulderbone people to 
trade to Augusta the Road to go as far toward the Oconee 
as the commissioners may think necessary at present, and that 
Henry Graybill, James Henry, Edward Butler and Robert 
Thomas be appointed commissioners.” 

Other roads were “Ordered” laid out as follows: From 
Cherokee Corner to Greensboro; and from Greensboro to the 
Oconee River at Zachariah Phillips Mill; and one leading out 
of “Sunbery neare” Hill’s Mill the most direct way to the 
“Sholes” of Ogeechee; and one from Greensboro to join a road 
that is cleared from Washington in Wilkes County to Stephen 
Heard’s plantation on the line of Wilkes & Greene. 


96 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The laying out of this last road, met with opposition on 
the part of one Emanuel Cheney who encouraged an affray 
and breach of the peace; and he was placed under a peace 
bond by Davis Gresham esq., an acting Justice of the Peace. He 
was released upon furnishing a bond of 50 pounds, sterling. 

We wonder what our commissioners would do if the Su¬ 
preme Court was to give them such an “ORDER” now? 

These minutes were all signed by Ezekeil E. Parks. Note 
the final “s”. 

All of these roads were built, and parts of them are still 
being used. The road from Rock Landing on the Oconee went 
via Powellton and on to the Ogeechee to Augusta. Later, this 
road came from Powellton via White Plains, and on across the 
Oconee River at Park’s Mill. From there on it was known as 
the Seven Islands Road which extended to the Ocmulgee. 

Parts of this road was used as a Stagecoach road from 
New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Columbus, Fort Hawkins 
and on by Washington, Ga., Petersburg, and on through South 
and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey and New York. The south to north bound stages crossed 
the east and west bound at Powellton. 

The Cherokee Corner to Greensboro road, came via Scull 
Shoals and crossed and recrossed the Greensboro - Watson 
Springs road; but did not cross the Oconee. 

These old roads are very important to county historians, 
as they lead to and by many landmarks that the casual obser¬ 
ver would overlook, and, old court records are also important. 
Civil suits, Indictments etc.; reveal the true character of the 
citizens. The old jury lists reveal who the “Esquires” were, and 
it is interesting to note a very small per cent of the jurors of the 
1790’s were “Esquires.” This does not mean that the vast 
majority were “pleabs,” but it does make one wonder why a 
few were always designated as “Esq.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


97 


THE OLD 3-CHOP ROAD TO THE WEST 

With our present paved highways leading in every direc¬ 
tion, and the wonderful concrete bridges over creeks and rivers, 
it is hard for us to visualize the difficulties our fore-fathers had 
as they trekked in search of homes in the unexplored country 
in the 'West; and few of us know that President Thomas Jef¬ 
ferson commissioned a Greene county man to lay out the first 
road from Georgia to the Mississippi River, and that this road 
led from Greensboro to what is now Vicksburg, Miss. However, 
that is exactly what happened, and Samuel Dale of Greene 
county, was the man who blazed that trail in the year 1801-4. 

Samuel Dale was among the first settlers to come into 
this section while it was a part of Washington county, and he 
was one of the Dragoons who helped to patrol the frontier 
along the Oconee River. He was an officer under Captain 
Jonas Fauche, and he to, suffered losses at the hands of the 
marauding Indians. , 

The memory of this pioneer will be signally honored next 
year as is indicated by the following letter: 


Europa, Miss 
Dec. 12, 1936. 


Mr. T. B. Rice, 
Greensboro, Ga. 


My dear Mr. Rice: 

‘‘I beg to acknowledge your letter of several weeks ago, and 
have neglected replying on account of pressing research work in 
connection with documents that relate to General Samuel Dale 
who formerly resided in Greene county, Georgia. 

I appreciate the copy of the record of Dale’s application for 
compensation for live stock stolen from him by the “Lower Creeks.” 

I am. unable to furnish you with a record of Dale’s special 
qualifications as a surveyor, but J. F. H. Claribone’s “Life and 
Times of General Samuel Dale, gives the facts that Dale. Eaton, 
Easley, Joe Saunders, a half-blood, were named by President. Jef¬ 
ferson to open a road from Greensboro, Ga., to the Bigbee 
settlements in Mississippi. From records here and in Alabama, 
they continued on to the Walnut Hills, now Vicksburg, Miss., 
reaching there in 1804. 


98 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


From Dale’s journal, scattered parts of which are at Pensa¬ 
cola and in Birmingham. Dale and his companions set out from 
Greensboro, Ga., then on the outer rim of civilization, to mark a 
road to Turkeytown, now Centre, Aja., early in 1803. Turkey town 
was the end of a Georgia mail route from the Oconee settlements, 
Milledgeville, Ga. From Turkeytown, Choctaw and Cherokee Indian 
runners carried the mail to Natchez, Spanish Mississippi. 

The road that Dale and his companions opened came to be 
known as the famous 3-Chop-Way from Washington by Richmond 
to the imperial southwest. 

Atlanta, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Jackson and 
Vicksburg are cities that have sprung up along this old trail of 
1803—the Sam Dale old trade route from the east to the west. 

Dale, Eaton, Easley and Saunders had their Christmas dinner 
in 1803, on a spot three miles from the place where Dale is buried. 
La-Cha-Poka, a 7-foot Indian chief, was their guest. Dale built his 
home on the spot in 1831. La-Cha-Poka means, “here we rest”— 
the motto of Alabama. 

La-Cha-Poka and James Dale, a brother of Sam’s, are buried 
in the same graveyard with Sam. 

Sam Dale, Sam Fluker the Indians called him, is buried in a 
pine thicket in the most desolated place that I have ever visited. 
For 95 years the old hero has lain there with none to do him 
honor. Greenwood LeFore, Choctaw chieftan, standing at Dale’s 
grave on May 25, 1841 said; “Big Sam, you sleep here, but your 
spirit is brave and a chieftain in the hunting grounds of the sky.” 

We are going on a pilgrimage to the onely and God-forsaken 
grave of Sam Dale, the hero of the canoe fight and the famous 
ride from Milledgeville, Ga. to New Orleans in January 1815, 
on October 15-16, 1937. Come with us!! 

We have a national^ committee to look after the pilgrimage 
program, and I am directed to ask you to serve on the committee 
for Georgia. Alabama, Florida and Mississippi have members on 
the committee. 

We will have a meeting of the committee in Meridian, Miss., 
Jan. 29, 1937. I most cordially insist that you attend the committee 
meeting on that date. We will go to Dale’s grave for the meeting. 

Please inform, me if we may include your name as a member 
of the General Dale Pilgrimage Society. 

Please bring or send a wreath for the grave; it need be only 
a simple affair. We want to place several wreaths on the grave 
Jan. 29, 1937.” 


Yours very truly, 

Signed: Jim Walton, Secretary, General Samuel 
Dale Pilgrimage Society, Europa, Miss. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


99 


The old 3-Chop Road started at Greensboro and led to 
Park’s Mill. However, it did not follow the present road that 
goes by Meadowcrest; but went about where the present high¬ 
way to Atlanta-Route No. 12 is located except, it crossed Rich¬ 
land Creek some fifty yards below the present concrete bridge 
and went up the hill that leads to the Baynes place, originally, 
the Early place, thence along the old road to a point about 
one-fourth of a mile beyond where Mr. John Hall now lives. 
Here, it turned to the left and intersected the present Greens- 
boro-Eatonton road to a point almost in front of the old Per¬ 
due home, and straight on to Park’s Mill. This old road can be 
clearly traced through the woods directly in front of the Perdue 
home. From Park’s Mill, the 3-Chop Road passed near where 
Madison now stands, and on in the direction of Monticello, 
and on west as indicated in the above letter. This road became 
known later, as the 7-Islands Road, so named because, it led 
by the 7-Islands in the Ocmulgee River. 

In pioneer days, road-markings appeared on trees on each 
side of the road, and were never duplicated. For example; the 
3-Chop Road was indicated by three distinct chops with an 
axe. Other roads were indicated by a greater or less number of 
chops. These road signs were observed by travelers as care¬ 
fully as we observe our highway signs of today. 

If Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and other states are to 
honor this former citizen of Greene county by making a pil¬ 
grimage to his grave. Greene county should certainly send a 
wreath to place on his grave on January 29, 1937. 


HISTORIC HIGHWAY NUMBER FIFTEEN. 

Just as you leave the Athens-Madison Highway is the 
suburbs of Watkinsville, you will cross the line that divided 
Franklin and Washington Counties as they were in 1784. Two 
years later-Feb. 3, 1786, the county of Greene was created 
wholely out of Washington; and named for that matchless Re¬ 
volutionary General, Nathaniel Greene. Greene County started 
at the Franklin County line and extended far below where 


100 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Sparta now stands; and comprised a territory about one hun¬ 
dred miles long, by twenty miles wide, and was a sort of buf¬ 
fer between the civilized portion of Georgia and the Indians. 

A comparatively few citizens settled in this territory while 
it was Washington County; but the rich land, fine healthy cli¬ 
mate, and good water, appealed to the brave men and women 
who like Joshua and Caleb desired to possess the land. Indian 
raids were fast and furious; and many of the early settlers lost 
their homes, horses and scalps. 

The first point of interest after leaving Watkinsville and 
going east, is Scull Schoals, which is located just above where 
the highway crosses the Oconee River. This was probably 
among the earliest settlements in Greene County. The first 
casualty recorded in the new county occurred here. A Mrs. 
Cessna was scalped alive by the Indians while her husband 
was clearing land to plant a crop. The poor woman fled across 
the Oconee at a point known as the “cow-ford” and gave the 
alarm. The citizens were soon in persuit of the marauding 
Indians and overtook and slew them. 

Scull Shoals was also the site of the “Early Manor.” The 
father of Governor Peter Early built a magnificent home on 
the east side of the Oconee, and it is said to have been the 
finest home north of Savannah. On the west side of the river, 
and just a few feet from the highway, stood the home of 
Governor Peter Early, and no more loyal, or wiser governor 
ever served the State. His remains were buried just a few feet 
from where the new bridge across the Oconee will be built. The 
remains of Governor Early were removed a few years ago and 
reinterred in the Greensboro cemetery. Scull Shoals played an 
important part in the development of Greene County for manv 
years. The first public Cotton Ginnery was built at or near Scull 
Shoals in 1807 by Thomas Ligon the great-grandfather of the 
President of the Georgia Senate, the Hon. Hamilton McWhort¬ 
er. The first Paper factory ever chartered by the Georgia Legis¬ 
lature was located on the Oconee River near Scull Shoals. The 
Scull Shoals Manufacturing Company built one of the earliest 
Cotton Factories in Georgia. About two miles from Scull 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


101 


Shoals, Isaac Stocks built the first Fort that was built in the 
county. It was in this Fort that his son Thomas was born on 
Feb. 1, 1786. The Highway from Scull Shoals to Greensboro 
passes through what was once the “Garden Spot” of Georgia. 
It edges two of the four “College Surveys” located in Greene 
County. The two that were located near Scull Shoals were 
knows as the Falling Creek, and Fishing Creek surveys of 
5000 acres each. And the Highway splits the Richland Survey 
right through the middle. The Richland Survey was laid out 
for the State University in 1786; and the town of Greensboro 
was designated as the site for the University. (See Watkins’ 
Digest of the Laws of Georgia, p. 322-323). 

In 1802, Greene County surrendered the teriitory from 
Watkinsville to near Scull Shoals to help create Clarke coun¬ 
ty; and in 1875, Clarke gave most of the land she had received 
from Greene to help form Oconee Co. 

Greensboro was burned by the Indians in 1787, and many 
of her citizens were murdered by the Indians but she arose from 
the ashes and built houses and character. She has furnished two 
United States Senators and many other prominent men and 
women who have graced both the State and the Nation. The 
old Greensboro cemetery would furnish material for many 
interesting books; and travelers passing through over Route 
No. 15 will find much to interest them. 

Traveling east from Greensboro the soil suddenly changes 
from red to gray, and the traveler will be delighted with 
the pleasing landscape and nice comfortable homes, and as 
clever people as ever lived upon the face of the earth. Siloam is 
the first village that greets the eye, and it is a thriving commu¬ 
nity. Next comes White Plains, which is among the oldest com¬ 
munities in the county. One of the Forts built for the protection 
of the people against the Indians was located about a mile from 
the present village. About two miles beyond White Plains you 
will cross the present Greer\e-Hancock County line. Greene 
surrendered much of her original territory in 1793 to help form 
Hancock County; and we think it best to let Hancock tell her 
own story. However, it will not be amiss to mention the fact 
that, one of the four College Surveys mentioned as having been 


102 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


located in the original Greene County was known as the Should- 
erbone Survey. This is located about two miles from the high¬ 
way and to the right of the road about six miles beyond White 
Plains. This is where the Shoulderbone Treaty was signed by 
the Creek Indians in 1799. There is also a group of Indian 
mounds in that same community. There are also four groups of 
Indian mounds along the Oconee River in the present Greene 
County that have never been molested, and doubtless contain 
much information concerning the Indians who dwelt here prior 
to the Creeks and Cherokees who were not mound builders. 

Travelers are invited to stop over at Greensboro and en¬ 
joy our hospitality and historic places. 

T. B. Rice, 

Greene County Historian. 

HIGHWAYS OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO 
By T. B. Rice 

In a book entitled “Mitchell’s United States” published in 
1835, and loaned the writer by Mrs. Mary James, Greensboro, 
Ga. Route No. 4; Georgia’s principal Stage Routes are listed 
and bore numbers from 1 to 11 as follows: No. 1 was from 
Augusta to Fort Mitchell, 224 miles; No. 2 was from Augusta 
to Covington, 127 miles; No. 3 was from Augusta to Carnes- 
ville, 120 miles; No. 4 from Augusta to Monroe, 119 miles; 
No. 5 from Milledgeville to Athens, 76 miles; No. 6 from 
Milledgeville to Tallahassee, F. T. (Florida Territory), 256 
miles; No. 7 from Savannah to Augusta, 119 miles; No. 8 
from Petersburg to Milledgeville, 86 miles; No. 9 from Savan¬ 
nah to Macon, 173 miles; No. 10 from Savannah to Darien, 
63 miles; No. 11 from Augusta to Monticello, 117 miles. 

Augusta and Savannah were in their glory: Milledgeville 
was the social and political center, Clinton was a center of cul¬ 
ture, Macon had barely shed her swaddling clothes, Columbus 
and Rome were not worth mentioning, and Atlanta hadnot been 
born. Athens was in bad repute from having “swiped” the univer- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


103 


sity from Greensboro, and Monticello had given vent to her 
spleen by changing the name of the county from Randolph to 
Jasper. Covington-Oxford had followed the lead of Penfield, 
and established a religious school for boys, Clinton, was being 
sapped to death by Macon, and Daniel Pratt got in a huff and 
went to Alabama and built a town of his own. Petersburg gave 
up the ghost when steamboats supplanted pole-boats from Sa¬ 
vannah to Augusta, and she could no longer compete with that 
growing city. 

Mark A. Cooper was pulling mighty hard for a railroad 
from Augusta to Eatonton, but he could not overcome that 
direct line from Augusta via Greensboro, Madison and Coving¬ 
ton to Marthasville; so he sought solace on the banks of the 
Etawah, near Cartersville where his home-made cannon and 
Joe Brown Pikes gave offense to General Sherman who destroy¬ 
ed his dream of fortune. Jacksonboro, Wrightsboro, Riceboro- 
and Salubrity were still on the map; and old Dr. Beeman was 
thrashing and teaching those boys at Mount Zion, who were 
too bad to be sent to any other school. It was a long jump from 
Savannah to Dublin, 58 miles, with nothing between, and the 
Irish there must have celebrated when they saw the State Coach 
coming. Neither Eatonton, Madison, Monticello, Lexington, 
Carnesville, Bowersville, Greensboro, Sparta, Lincolnton, 
Washington, Darien, Knoxville nor Warrenton have suffered 
greatly from “growing pains”, yet there would have been no 
Atlanta without them. The blood-stream of all these places 
have flowed outward and mainly, in the direction of Atlanta: 
but her heart has grown so large, and her pants so full, that 
her stride reaches from New Gibralter, Stone Mountain, on the 
East, to the Chattahoochee on the West; and from Roswell 
on the North, to Jonesboro on the South, and she is still begging 
for more. And, like Los Angeles, she would like to stretch her 
legs wide enough to make Savannah her Port. She will spon¬ 
sor any paved highway that leads to Atlanta. 


Chapter V 


THE CHURCHES OF GREENE COUNTY 

Few if any of us realize what the churches, past and pres¬ 
ent, mean and have meant to Greene County, and the rest of 
our state and nation. Among the first things the early settlers 
did, was to organize some sort of place of worship; and as the 
population increased, duly organized churches were established. 
In the early days when churches were few and far between, Bap¬ 
tists, Methodists, and Presbyterians worshipped together, and 
meeting days meant much to them. When the members of their 
respective faiths grew in number and financial ability, each 
established their own churches, called their own pastors, and 
practiced the tenets peculiar to their respective denomination. 

Foot-washing Baptists, shouting Methodists, what-is-to-be- 
will-be Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, did not always agree, 
and don’t yet, but they all worshipped God according to their 
way of thinking. All, or nearly all were loyal to their church, and 
were powers for good in their respective communities. Educa¬ 
tion, reading their Bibles, intermarriage with other denomina¬ 
tions, and other influences, had much to do with narrowing the 
chasm that separated them, and now, in 1941, they all work to¬ 
gether harmoniously. 

There have always been scoffers, non-Christian, non-church 
members, and Godless men and women, who reaped the benefits 
of living in a Christian community without contributing to these 
bf*re c: ts. other words, they “reap what others have sown” 
and few, if any of them would live in any community that did 
not have a church. The rise and fall of the churches in Greene 
County, and the reasons for same, is an interesting study. There¬ 
fore, for the benefit of those who care, I have prepared the 
following, however, in the absence of minute books and church 
records, I will have to omit some that should be included. 

Bethany’s Presbyterian Church 

This story of old Bethany church was read at the Centen¬ 
nial of this church in 1886 by W. E. Reynolds. 


104 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


105 



Bethesda Baptist (Whatley’s Mill) church. Left center—Bethany Presby¬ 
terian. Right center—Liberty Methodist. Bottom—Shiloh Baptist. 

















106 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


As early as 1784 emigrants from N. C., began to settle 
in the Bethany neighborhood in the forks of the Ogeechee River. 
Greene was a frontier county and the people were exposed to 
frequent attacks by the Indians, whose hunting and fishing 
grounds lay up and down the stream. From one to six miles 
northeast of Bethany church may be seen mounds of rocks and 
implements left by the Indians. 

Rev. Moses Waddell, a young man was teaching near 
Bethany and had his school broken up by a band of Creek 
Indians who crossed the Oconee and burned Greensboro. The 
early settlers were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Rev. Jones Ed¬ 
monds from Charleston was the first Presbyterian minister here. 
There was no building and meetings were held at the home of 
Thomas Baldwin, one mile east of the present church. 

Rev. Daniel Thatcher from N. C. a member of the Presby¬ 
tery of Orange came to Ga. as a missionary in 1785 and settled 
at Bethany. In 1786 he organized the church and preached for 
two years, twice a month. Henry, James and William Stewart 
from N. C. were among the first settlers. There were about 
fifty members of the church when it was first organized. The 
elders were: Andrew Reid, Wm. Greer, John Cain, Wm. Smith, 
Geo. Campbell, and John Waddel. In 1792 Rev. Robert M. 
Cunningham from York Co. Penn., settled near Mt. Zion in 
Hancock Co. and organized Ebenezer church then moved to 
Bethany and preached at both these churches until 1808. There 
were 180 members, people had then moved in from Maryland, 
N. C. and Pennsylvania. 

After worshipping in homes in winter and under the trees 
in summer, the people were proud of their log church. Mrs. 
Jane Greer Corry was baptized as an infant under the large oak 
near the present church. She married Wm. Corry and was the 
mother of Mrs. H. M. Holden, Mrs. W. R. Jennings and Mrs. 
W. H. M. Weaver. A larger church was built and stood until 
1873, when the present church was erected. 

The second camp meeting in Ga. was held at Bethany near 
a spring under the trees and the people slept in their wagons at 
night. Other ministers here were: Dr. Cummings, a Rev. Sol., 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


107 


Henry Reid, from S. C., B. Gildersleeve, Carlisle Beeman, D.D. 
from 1831-34, Francis H. Goulding, Richard Hooker, Jno. Cas- 
sels, Francis Bowman, Jno. W. Reid, F. T. Simpson, Dr. C. P. 
Beman, 1870, Henry Newton in 1874. 

Here the celebrated Woodrow trial had its beginning. The 
charges against Dr. Woodrow was heresy, teaching evolution 
to the students of the Theological Seminary. He did not deny 
teaching evolution from his standpoint, but did deny the heresy 
charge. Dr. Woodrow defended himself in a masterly manner 
and was acquitted. The prosecution was led by Dr. Wm. Adams 
and Dr. Jno. L. Cirerdesa. 

The trial took two days. The church and the grounds were 
crowded with people. After Dr. Woodrow was acquitted here 
the Synod and the court of General Assembly took up the case. 
This was the most notable church trial of that time. 


Liberty Chapel (Methodist) 

About 1786, John Bush built a brush arbor as a community 
center for camp meetings at what was then called “Cracker’s 
Neck.” From this grew Liberty Chapel, “Cradle of Methodism” 
for this section. In 1797 Rev. James Jenkins, leader in the early 
days of Methodism and, at that time, on the Washington Cir¬ 
cuit including Greene, Taliaferro, Wilkes, Lincoln, Elbert, Hart, 
Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe Counties, preached here and 
reported in his “Journal” that, after a “fiery exhortation”, a 
man in uniform came down the aisle and fell at his feet, crying 
for pardon. Others followed and, according to Rev. Jenkins, 
then, at Libertv Chapel, began the Methodist custom of “going 
to the altar”. The meeting began so noisy, he continued, that it 
was a wonder the horses did not take fright. 

Most of the great men of early Methodism were identi¬ 
fied with this church. Bishop Francis Asbury preached here 
several times and, in 1808 when the South Carolina Conference 
met here, he and Bishop William McKendree attended. At 
Liberty Chapel. Rev. Lovick Pierce was ordained an elder and 
Bishop William Capers was admitted as a preacher on trial. 


108 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Shiloh Baptist 

Organized in 1795, one mile from Penfield and was called 
Town’s Creek Church. Thomas Stocks told of how he, as a boy, 
used to accompany his mother as she rode on horseback as she 
went to “meeting” at old Shiloh. He said, “I walked by the side 
of the horse with my gun on my shoulder, and kept my eyes 
open for lurking Indians; and the law required every man and 
boy, who attended church, to carry his gun, and during church 
services, four to six armed men stood guard around the church.” 

A more substantial building was erected in 1807, but was 
destroyed by a cyclone in the 1850’s. An effort was made to get 
the Shiloh members to unite with Penfield and build a new 
church there, however, the offer was rejected and Shiloh was 
moved to where it now stands. It, too, has functioned continu¬ 
ously and has had many noted pastors and members. 


New Hope Baptist 

Organized in 1800, and was originally located some four 
miles from its present location—Greshamville. Its members lived 
in “The Fork”—Meaning that part of Greene county that lies 
between the Appalachee and Oconee rivers; but the Fitzpatricks 
and others, lived in what is known as the Oakland neighborhood. 
Alabama’s great statesman, Benjamin Fitzpatrick was at one 
time, a member of this church; his brother Rene, was Church 
clerk for many years. The Fosters were members of this church. 
A member of this family, Rev. Nathaniel Greene Foster, was 
not only a noted Baptist preacher, but was a circuit judge, and 
Congressman. Many noted preachers, including Rev. Adiel Sher¬ 
wood, have served this church, and many others have “kept the 
home fires burning’ throughout the years. 


Bairds Church ( Baptist) 

Organized by Rev. Jesse Mercer and others, on June 24, 
1802. Bairds is located at Bairdstown, and very near the line 
between Greene and Oglethorpe counties. Bairds Church was 
the hub of “Mell’s Kingdom”, and Rev. Patrick H. Mell and his 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


109 


son, Rev. John Mell, served this church for many years. Many 
other noted preachers have served this church. Its members have 
been among the best citizens of Greene and Oglethorpe counties. 

Scull Shoals Baptist 

Now extinct; was organized in 1789, dissolved in 1854. 
Very little is known of this church except that, it was organized 
by the early settlers. Scull Shoals citizens suffered from Indian 
raids from the time it was first settled, by whites, in 1784, and 
many of its citizens were murdered and scalped by the Indians. 
Scull Shoals had a population of some 600 people before the 
War Between the States, therefore, it is somewhat surprising 
that the church dissolved while that many people were living 
there. 


Falling Creek Baptist 

This church was in Greene county, when organized in 1787, 
but fell in Oglethorpe when that county was organized in 
1793. Falling Creek empties into the Oconee River and forms 
the boundary between Greene and Oglethorpe counties. No men¬ 
tion is made of this church after 1802. (Extinct) 

Richland Creek Baptist 
(Now extinct) 

Established in 1793; located on Sand Creek, near where it 
empties into Richland, and some three miles from Liberty Meth¬ 
odist Church. It withdrew from the Georgia Association and 
united with the Washington Association in 1832. It was dis¬ 
solved after the War Between the States. Mr. Sam P. Turner, 
and other citizens recall attending services at old Richland Bap¬ 
tist Church. Bishop Warren Candler’s mother was a member of 
this church. 


White Plains Baptist 

Established in 1806; but it is doubtful if there was a vil- 


110 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


lage by that name when the church was organized. The follow¬ 
ing is quoted from the Hancock Advertiser, Mt. Zion, Ga., 
Monday, Dec. 25, 1828: “The name of the postoffice already 
established at Wall’s Old Fort was changed to White Plains.” 

This seems to indicate that the town took its name from 
the Baptist Church that had been established there many years 
before. Sherwood’s Gazetteer, 1827 edition does not list White 
Plains, but does list Wall’s Fort as a postoffice. This, together 
with the announcement in the Mt. Zion paper of Dec. 25, 1828, 
seems to prove that White Plains took the place of Wall’s Fort. 
The White Plains Baptist Church has a wonderful record for 
good; and no village church, in Georgia, ever had better preach¬ 
ers, or a finer class of people to preach to. 


Fort Creek Baptist 
(Now extinct) 

Established in 1790, and was located on Fort Creek, near 
its mouth. The site is now in Hancock; but was in Greene up to 
1793. 


Shoulderbone Baptist 
{Extinct since 1807) 

Established in 1791; exact location unknown to the writer. 
It was somewhere along Shoulderbone Creek, and that creek, 
from source to mouth was, originally, in Greene county. 


Powellton Baptist 

Organized in 1786; at that time, it was in Greene county, 
but fell in Hancock when that county was formed out of parts 
of Greene and Washington counties in 1793. The Georgia Bap¬ 
tist Convention was organized in the Powellton Baptist Church 
in 1822, and, like Kiokee, is one of the most historic churches 
in Georgia. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


111 


Greensboro Baptist 

Organized June 9, 1821, by Rev. Jesse Mercer, Rev. Adiel 
Sherwood and seven or eight members with church letters from 
Shiloh, White Plains, and other Baptist Churches. Adiel Sher¬ 
wood was the first pastor and served until 1833. The church 
was organized in the old Siloam Meeting House, on cemetery 
hill, in the town of Greensboro. This Meeting House had long 
been used by the Presbyterians, and was an “arm” of Bethany. 
Dr. Francis Cummins was the resident pastor and teacher in the 
Union Academy, that stood near by. The Baptist and Presby¬ 
terians divided the time equally, in the use of the Meeting 
House, up to 1830. In that year, Dr. Cummins and Rev. Adiel 
Sherwood, together with their members, secured a charter from 
the Georgia Legislature, to organize a church to be known as 
“The Union Meeting House”. Under a joint agreement each 
denomination was to have full possession of the building for 
certain days, and named the day and hour. Repairs, upkeep, 
janitor’s service, and all incidental expenses were equally divided 
between the two congregations, many of the original bills are 
still in existence. 

This joint-ownership continued up to 1850, in that year, 
the Baptists bought the Presbyterian’s interest; but the Presby¬ 
terians continued to use the buildings up to 1852, while their 
new church and Female College were being built. 

Dr. Cummins preached his farewell sermon in the old 
Union Meeting House on Sunday before Feb. 22, 1852, and 
died three days later, of influenza. 

The Baptists continued to use the old church until 1902, 
in which year, they sold the building and grounds to Guy W. 
Hall, and began building their new church where it now stands. 
The lot was a gift from Mrs. William Reid Jackson. While the 
new church was being built, the Presbyterians tendered the use 
of their church, for two Sundays in each month. 

The Greensboro church has had many able pastors, a long 
list of loyal members, and has ever been loyal to the Missionary 
cause. 

Rev. Charles H. Kopp was the pastor in 1941. 


112 


HISTORY OF GREENF COUNTY 







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CHURCHES 

Siloam Baptist, Union Point Methodist, New Siloam Methodist, Siloam 

Presbyterian. 


















HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


113 


Smyrna ( Siloam ) Baptist 

Organized in 1828, and has been one of Greene county’s 
outstanding churches throughout the years. For many years, 
Smyrna and Greensboro formed a field, the pastor residing at 
Greensboro, and both churches had preaching two Sundays in 
each month. Later, that church formed a field with White 
Plains, and Rev. Ellis A. Cottrell is, and has been its pastor 
for many years. Smyrna has always had a fine membership. 

Friendship Baptist 
(Now extinct) 

Organized in 1831, located in the Southern part of Greene 
county, near Fuller’s Bridge, on Richland Creek, about one- 
fourth of a mile to the left of the Greensboro-Eatonton road. 
It was dissolved in the 1880’s. 

Penfield Baptist 

Organized in 1839, soon after the destruction of the orig¬ 
inal Shiloh Church. Originally, it was a wooden building and 
stood to the right of the present church. It was formed with a 
few members from Shiloh and the teachers and students of 
Mercer Institute, later, Mercer University. The present church, 
originally built as a Chapel for Mercer University, was given to 
the Penfield Baptists when Mercer University was moved to 
Macon, Ga. It, too, has had many outstanding pastors. Rev. 
R. W. Haynie was the pastor in 1941. 

Macedonia Baptist 

Organized in 1854, located in the northwestern part of 
Greene county and, at one time, had a large and wealthy mem¬ 
bership. Originally, it was in the Apalachee Association, but 
joined the Georgia Association in 1872. 

Union Point Baptist 

Organized in 1872; has the largest membership of any Bap¬ 
tist Church in the Georgia Association, and is a flourishing 
church, has had many able pastors. 


114 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Top—Macedonia Baptist. Left center—Woodville Baptist. Right center 
West End Baptist, Greensboro. Bottom—First Baptist, Greensboro. 
















HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


115 


Veazy Baptist 

Organized in 1873, located some five miles southeast of 
Greensboro, in the community known as Veazy, Ga. The records 
of this church, prior to 1905, have been lost. Dr. J. H. Kilpat¬ 
rick preached the dedication sermon, and is said to have given 
the name Enon. This church has meant much to the community 
and has had many able pastors. Rev. Ellis A. Cottrell has been 
its pastor since 1919. 


Woodville Baptist 

Organized in 1886; the elders who constituted the church 
were: P. H. Mell, J. F. Edens, J. S. Callaway, J. R. Young, 
A. A. Fluker, J. F. Cheney, and W. A. Montgomery. Hon. W. 
P. McWhorter is said to have donated the present, handsome 
church building. This has long been a prominent church in the 
Georgia Association, and is a part of “Mell’s Kingdom”. Pen- 
field was the hub around which, Mell’s Kingdom revolved, and 
Patrick H. Mell’s influence lasted long years after his death. 

Greensboro Second Baptist 

Organized about 1908. Located in the section known as, 
Greensboro’s West End, and is the youngest church in the Geor¬ 
gia Association. The deacons of the Greensboro Baptist Church, 
at the request of those who proposed to organize the church, 
with T. B. Rice, acting-moderator, constituted the church, after 
which, deacons were elected and installed, and articles of faith 
and by-laws were adopted. This church has around one hundred 
members and is doing a good work. 

Rev. R. W. Haynie is the pastor, and resides in Penfield. 

Goshen Church 

This church is named on a very old map of Greene County 
and is extinct. The owners of the land were named, and many 
churchs, villages and court grounds, all now gone. I have not 
been able to find any records of this old church. (Built in 1790.) 


116 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Top—Walker’s Methodist and Presbyterian Church at Greensboro. Center— 
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro. Bottom—Old Union 
Church used by the Baptist and Presbyterians before and after 1800. 














HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


117 


Phillips Mill\ Baptist 

This old church was served by Silas Mercer for eleven 
years and followed by his son Jesse Mercer for 37 years. 

Greensboro Presbyterian, Church 

After selling their interest in the Union Church to the Bap¬ 
tists, the Presbyterians acquired a beautiful lot at the corner of 
Main and South Streets and built a church of their own, com¬ 
pleting it in 1860. On June 13, 1860 this church was dedicated 
by Dr. Joseph Wilson of Augusta and Dr. Nathan Hoyt of 
Athens. The brick for this church were made near the site and 
Mr. Tunison was the contractor. While Federal troops occupied 
Greensboro this church burned in 1869. The bell in this church 
came from the Female College established by the Presbyterians 
and after the fire, the bell was given to the colored Presbyterians 
and is still in use. 

Dr. H. H. King received the donations to rebuild the 
church, and this was done and the picture is in this book. The 
old church had a pulpit and woodwork of solid mahogany with 
beautiful ceiling and frescoed walls. The pulpit furniture and 
Bible were gifts from the girls in the Female College. These 
were saved from the fire and are now in the present church. 

Union Meeting House 

The Union Meeting House was incorporated by an Act of 
the Georgia Legislature on Dec. 19, 1828, and the following 
Trustees were named for the Presbyterians: Charles A. Redd, 
John Cunningham and Ebenezer Torrance. For the Baptists: 
Vincent Sanford, Sr., Lemuel Greene and John West. The bell 
was made in Philadelphia and the people gave articles of silver 
to be put in the metal for the bell so that it would have a clear 
and musical tone. The bell was shipped to Savannah by boat, 
thence to Augusta and brought to Greensboro on a wagon. All 
revivals were held in August and the Baptists converts were 
baptised in Richland Creek. Although the Baptists and Presby¬ 
terians were the principal denominations who kept the church 
and worshipped there, at some times, the Methodist and Cath- 


118 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


olics were known to have used the church before they had one 
of their own. 

The old Union Meeting House was unusual in that the 
Baptists and Presbyterians worshipped together there from 1830 
to 1859. After that date of January 1859 this church became the 
property of the Baptist church. This old church was a wooden 
building and would seat about 400 people. There were two front 
entrances, and the men sat on the right and the ladies on the 
left. The side for the men was equipped with foot rests and spit- 
boxes filled with sand, and were freely used by the “brethern.” 
There was at first a melodian and in 1870 an organ was in¬ 
stalled. This church was located on cemetery hill. From 1790 to 
1821 Dr. Francis Cummins a Presbyterian minister held services. 
In 1821 Rev. Jesse Mercer and Adiel Sherwood came to Greens¬ 
boro and organized a church, called “The Greensboro Baptist 
Church of Christ”. Jesse Mercer acted as moderator and John 
West was Clerk with Adiel Sherwood as pastor. Several mem¬ 
bers from Shiloh and White Plains Baptist brought their letters 
to this new church. From Shiloh were: Sarah Terrell, John and 
Mary West, Vincent Sanford, Rhoda Parish, Cynthia Rools and 
Elixa Colquitt. From White Plains were: Elizabeth Maddox, 
Jonathan and Elizabeth Bickers, Lucy and Betsy Bickers from 
Powellton, Betsy O’Rear from Richland and Adiel Sherwood 
f om Bethlehem in Oglethorpe Co. 

Sherwood and Cummins worked together and built a larger 
and better church. In 1850, the Presbyterians sold their interest 
to the Baptists and built a new church on Main Street, which 
was destroyed by fire in 1869 and the present one built. 

The Baptists remodeled the Union Church and built a 
Baptismal pool at the back which had to be filled with water 
drawn from a well nearby. One Saturday, the faithful old sexton 
called Anderson, drew water all day filling the oool for the 
baptizing on Sunday. On Saturday night some mischievous boys 
drained the pool and so the baptizing had to be postponed. 

Before the Union meeting house was built in 1830 these 
same churches had used jointly the old Siloam meeting house. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


119 



Powelton Baptist church now in Hancock Co. Greensboro Methodist 
church. Lower left—Marker at Powelton church. Lower right—White 

Plains Methodist church. 













































































120 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Greensboro Methodist Church 

Greensboro was founded in 1786 and itinerant Methodist 
preachers preached there, however when Bishop Asbury visited 
in 1799 there was no Methodist church so he preached in the 
Presbyterian. Soon a little log church was built on the outskirts 
of town, which served until Dr. Pierce came and then a better 
church was built. The first Methodist Conference was held by 
Bishop Asbury in a large old two story house which in his Journ¬ 
al he called “Bush’s”. The house later was owned by John D. 
Copeland. 

The contract for a new Methodist church was let in Oc¬ 
tober 1908 and the first service was held on Sunday Feb. 5, 
1911. Rev. W. L. Pierce preached the sermon, assisted by Rev. 
W. H. Cooper. The pastor was Rev. W. H. Joiner. The build¬ 
ing committee were as follows: E. A. Copelan, E. W. Copelan, 
S. E. Jopling, P. F. Merritt, G. A. Merritt, J. H. McWhorter, 
J. E. Armor and James B. Park. Dr. J. C. Asbury’s home stood 
where the present parsonage now stands. 

Bethesda Baptist Church 

When Bethesda Baptist Church was organized in 1785, it 
was known as Whatley’s Mill Church, and was in Wilkes County 
before it was added to Greene in 1802. When the present build¬ 
ing was erected in 1818, the name was changed to Bethesda. 
Jesser Mercer was pastor for a number of years and here he 
ordained Adiel Sherwood as minister of the Gospel. This splen¬ 
did brick structure indicates that this section was populous and 
wealthy. In the early days of the church, worshippers, fearful of 
attack by Indians, carried their guns to services. 

The Episcopal Church 
(The Church of the Redeemer) 

According to tradition, the first Episcopal services, in 
Greensboro, were held in the home of Airs. Phillip Clayton; but 
the church was built in 1867. (organized 1863). The lot upon 
which the Episcopal Church was built, belonged to Mr. Hol¬ 
comb G. Harper, Mrs. Clayton’s father. Mr. Harper sold the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


121 


lot to Mr. Clayton for the sum of $100.00. The deed read to, 
Phillip Clayton, John C. Carmichael and Phillip Poullain, 'War¬ 
dens and Vestry of the Church of the Redeemer. This deed was 
dated Feb. 9, 1867, and is recorded in Deed Book S-S. page 296. 
The deed describes the lot by number as shown on plat of the 
Town of Greensboro, and recorded in Deed Book E-E. p. 220, 
in 1812. 

Mr. Barnett was the architect who built the church, he lived 
with Dr. Thomas N. Poullain while building the church. The 
Church was organized by Bishop Elliott, who was afterwards 
Bishop of Western Texas. 

Miss Gilby, English governess for the children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Phillip Poullain, contributed $100.00 for the purchase of 
the lot. Mrs. Poullain was Catherine Potter of Savannah and a 
member of the church. There were a number of children in the 
family and she and Miss Gilby wanted a church for them. The 
money was contributed by various members here and doubtless 
elsewhere, the Clayton family being among the prominent ones. 

Rev. Stephen Elliott, a nephew of Bishop Elliott, was the 
first minister. Later Rev. Joshua Knowles, a resident of the 
town, had charge of the church and continued for many years. 
Mr. Knowles was buried in the church yard. Several refugee 
families from Charleston and Savannah helped organize the 
church. The Church of the Redeemer was dedicated by Bishop 
Beckwith. 

(Mrs. Henry T. Lewis supplied the above information, through her 
son, Mr. Junius Lewis) 

Greensboro Catholic Church 

In the 1890’s a Catholic Church was built here on the lot 
where Mrs. W. H. Prior now lives. The date of the erection 
and organization cannot be found, and no one knows when it 
ceased to function. There was a small membership. 

Prior to the War Between the States, the Baptists, Meth¬ 
odists and Presbyterian churches all had many colored members, 
and had their own stewards and deacons and elders of their own 


122 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


race who ministered to them separately. Certain Negroes were 
appointed to keep watch over the morals of the less religious 
ones, and judging from the minutes of the various conferences 
they did not hesitate to report on the misconduct of the erring 
brothers and sisters. Some of these Negroes were highly conse¬ 
crated Christians and were devoted to their churches. 

Salem Methodist Church 

There was old Salem Methodist Church, now extinct, and 
no records were found. 

Hastings Methodist Church 

Hastings Methodist, two miles north of Siloam—moved to 
Siloam. 


Wesleyan Methodist Church 

Wesleyan Methodist—three miles east of Greensboro. 

Oakland Presbyterian Church 

Oakland Presbyterian—moved to Penfield, now called Pen- 
field Presbyterian. 

BISHOP JAMES OSGOOD ANDREW AND THE 
SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH 

A serious division over slavery came at the General Con¬ 
ference of 1844. The issue was brought to a head by the mar¬ 
riage of Bishop James O. Andrew to Mrs. Ann Mounger Green¬ 
wood, of Greensboro, a slaveholding wife. Although the slaves 
were registered in his wife’s name who inherited them from her 
father, this made the Bishop unacceptable to the Northern Con¬ 
ference. After eleven days of debating the issue a motion to 
suspend the Bishop was passed. This led to the southern Meth¬ 
odists organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and 
espousing the cause of the Confederacy. Of the membership of 
the Southern church there were 460,000 white members and 
124,961 Negroes and 2,972 Indians. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


123 


Mrs. Andrew died in 1854 and the law reinvested the 
Bishop with his wife’s property. The Bishop promptly gave the 
slaves to Mrs. Andrews’ children. There was a Dr. Olin of the 
north living in New England who had owned slaves but sold 
them and yet he retained the money. Dr. Capers of the Northern 
church, a slaveholder had also been appointed to positions of 
trust. 

Mr. Finley of Ohio, who was a close friend of Bishop 
Andrews tried to offer a substitute by offering to ask him to 
resign. Bishop Andrew, several years previously had been left 
a mulatto girl, Kitty, by an old lady from Augusta as a legacy 
to see that she was sent to Liberia when she became 19 years 
old. Kitty would not leave or accept her freedom, so this was 
another obstacle to the Bishop. 

It was Joshua Soule, the Senior Bishop from Maine who 
stood by Andrew and believed the Bishop was right, although 
Soule had never owned a slave and was at this time living in 
Ohio. 

Not until more than a half century had passed did the 
Northern and Southern Methodists reunite. At old Oxford, Ga. 
now may be seen the grave of the slave girl “Kitty” inclosed in 
a white paling fence with a notation saying that she was part of 
the cause of the schism in the church. 

In the Cemetery in Greensboro is the grave of Mrs. James 
O. Andrew whose slaves caused her husband so much trouble. 
In the Morgan inclosure you will see a beautiful monument to 
her memory. 


MELL’S KINGDOM 

In several previous articles I have tried to show how the 
influence of devout men of the Gospel have influenced the lives 
of the people of various sections of our county; and the same 
is true throughout the state of Georgia and the nation. And, 
while it is not my intention to make comparisons between the 
moral and religious influence of any of these great preachers 
who are now living and those who have gone to their reward, I 


124 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


think it not amiss to refer to Patrick Hues Mell who impressed 
a section of Greene and Oglethorpe counties so profoundly that 
even to this day, they are referred to as “Mell’s Kingdom.” 

In order to fully appreciate the life, character and ministry 
of Patrick Hues Mell it will be necessary to read his biography 
written by his son, P. H. Mell, Jr., published by the Baptist 
Book Concern in 1895. Although Dr. Mell felt called to preach 
the Gospel, at an early age, it was not until he came to Penfield, 
Ga., as a teacher in Mercer University, that he was ordained as 
a full-fledged minister. After becoming a professor at Mercer 
University, he continued to preach to country churches but his 
preaching was largely gratuitous. His piety, his eloquence, his 
sincerity and sound doctrine claimed the attention of the Greens¬ 
boro Baptist Church. In October, 1842, they (the Greensboro 
Baptist Church) requested the brethren at Penfield to ordain 
P. H. Mell for the ministry in order that he might accept the 
pastorate of the Greensboro Church. In response to this request 
the brethren at Penfield met in conference October 29th, 1842, 
and the following minutes were recorded: 


“Moved and carried that the request of the Greensboro church 
to put Brother Mell forward for ordination be agreed to; and that 
Saturday before the third Sunday in November be the day; and that 
the candidate and Pastor elect the Presbytery. The Brethren Brooks, 
Stokes, Harris and the Pastor were named. Directed the Clerk to give 
written notice to the Presbytery.” 


He was duly ordained on the date set, and his credentials 
were signed by B. M. Sanders, W. H. Stokes and Otis Smith. 
Dr. Mell accepted the call from the Greensboro church and 
entered at once upon the work. 

The Greensboro church was only a part-time church in 
those days, and Dr. Mell preached to other churches on the va¬ 
cant Sundays although, he was not their pastor. In 1848 he ac¬ 
cepted the pastorate of the Bairdstown church located in Greene 
County, Georgia; and in 1852 he was also elected to take charge 
of the church at Antioch, in Oglethorpe County. Finding that 
these two churches would occupy all of his time he was compelled 
to resign his pastorate at Greensboro, where he had served con¬ 
tinuously for ten years. The brethren at Greensboro, after ac- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


125 


cepting Dr. Mell’s resignation passed a lengthy resolution which 
plainly showed their regret over giving him up. 

During the ten years that Dr. Mell was pastor of the 
Greensboro church he lived in Penfield and taught the boys at 
Mercer, and a tough job he had with some of them. Nor was all 
serene among the President and faculty. “Old Pat” believed in, 
and enforced discipline, and many are the stories told about his 
catching up with the boys as they planned their carousals, and 
many a “night party,” was broken up by him. On one occasion 
the boys stole his carriage and pulled it down the hill, a mile 
or more. When they reached the spot where they intended to 
leave it, Dr. Mell stuck his head out of the carriage window 
and said: “Boys, I enjoyed the ride down hill, now, you can 
pull it back to where you got it.” 

Dr. Mell severed his connection with Mercer University 
in 1856. The Presidency of a number of colleges were offered 
him but he declined them all. On December 12, 1856, Dr. Mell 
was elected Professor of Ancient Languages by the University 
of Georgia, which he accepted and entered upon his new duties 
in Jan. 1857. From that date until his death Dr. Mell served 
the University as President and Chancellor, however, he con¬ 
tinued to serve Bairds and Antioch churches. In March 1887, 
Dr. Mell was again called by the Greensboro Baptist Church 
and he accepted the call and served until December of that year. 
Thus was Greensboro his first and last pastorate. 

During Dr. Mell’s pastorates up to the close of the War 
Between the States, the membership of all his churches were 
about equally divided between whites and slaves. When the 
Negroes were freed they organized churches of their own, with 
the aid of their former masters. However, Dr. John D. Mell, 
son of Dr. P. H. Mell, tells of a rare instance where one negro 
deacon of the Bairdstown Church, declined to separate himself 
from his white brethren. I will quote from Dr. John D. Mell: 

He begins his story—-“My Father’s Negro Deacon.” 

“I inherited him from my father, Dr. P. H. Mell. In slavery times 
the negroes all over the South, belonged to the white churches. They 
had separate seats for them, usually in the galleries, and they always 
attended the preaching services and church conferences, with the 


126 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


whites. They were regular members in good standing. Every church 
had negro deacons, who served the negro members, just as the white 
deacons served the white members. In the old Baird’s Church, of the 
Georgia Association, before the Civil War, Louis Edmondson, a young 
slave, was a member who was converted under my father’s preaching, 
and baptized by him. He was of unusual intelligence and good charac¬ 
ter, and was made a deacon. After the war, most of the Negroes left 
the white churches and organized churches of their own. In rare cases, 
they stuck to the white churches and refused to go with the colored 
people. Louis, his wife and daughter, were among those rare cases. They 
all kept their membership in Baird’s Church until they died. Several 
years after my father’s death, I was called to the ministry by Baird’s 
church, where my father was pastor for forty years. One of the first 
members to welcome me was Louis. He became at once my fast friend, 
and remained so until his death. I never had a more loyal friend. To 
the best of his ability he was an humble, faithful and efficient member. 
He, his wife and daughter were, unless sick, always present at the 
preaching services. They had a bench in the rear of the church, that 
was theirs, by common consent, and nobody else ever occupied it. 
When the communion service, after the white people were served, one 
of the white deacons waited upon Louis with the bread and wine, and 
then handed the plate and the cup to him, and he served his wife and 
daughter with fine grace and dignity. No king on his throne was ever 
prouder of his office than Louis was of his. It was a rare treat to see 
him> when he was serving as deacon, and to me, it was inpressive and 
beautiful. 

After the death of his wife and daughter he moved away five or 
six miles from the church and usually walked to preaching services. 
Every Fourth Sunday, the preaching day, he was entertained by some 
white member at dinner. I have, many times, been a guest with him 
at the same -house. I ate with the white folks in the dining room, and 
Louis ate with the colored folks in the kitchen. We both got the same 
good dinner and the same hearty welcome. The last several months 
of his life, he was an invalid, and could not come to church. Every 
week, two of the white deacons went to see him, and very Fourth 
Sunday we took a collection for him at the regular service-. This was 
the only public collection the church took for any purpose. It had a 
financial plan that abolished public collections, except for Louis. 

I do not believe there was a single person in that community, 
white or black, who did not have a sincere respect for Louis, and an 
affectionate confidence in his Christian character. I do not believe I 
ever preached a sermon, when he was present, that he did not come 
up and shake my hand, and tell me he enjoyed it. I have an indelible, 
enchanting recollection of the last time he came to church. After the 
sermon, he came to me, with tears in his eyes, and with a quiver in 
his voice, and said to me, “Boss”—that is what he always called me— 
“Boss”, dat was a good sermon you preach. You mind me er you pa 

today. You kair me back to dem days wen he talk in dat pulpit. Pear 
lak I could jes see im and hear im while you talkin. You good preacher, 
Boss and I loves you. But Boss, now dont git mad wid me. You know 
Boss, yer kaint preach lak yer pa. “No sir” he said, with deep, wistful 
sadness in his voice. “Dey aint nobody no more gwine preach lac 
yer pa.” 

Louis and I had one ineffible bond between us that nothing in 
this world could break. He thought my father was the greatest, the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


127 


wisest and the best man he ever saw. And I think so, too. He thought 
my father was the greatest preacher that ever walked the earth since, 
the days of the Apostle Paul. And I think so, too.” 


Note: The above lines were written for this Greene County His¬ 
torian, by Dr. John D. Mell whom I have personally known 
for many years and who is widely and greatly beloved 
throughout the nation, and more especially among Southern 
Baptists. 


OUR “CITY OF THE DEAD” 

By T. B. Rice 

“Lives of great men all remind us 
We can make our lives sublime, 

And, departing, leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time”. 

These beautiful lines of the poet Longfellow suggest them¬ 
selves as we read what Judge Henry T. Lewis, then editor of 
the Greensboro Herald, as he strolled through the old Greens¬ 
boro cemetery as some sage of the long-ago unfolded to him the 
accomplishments of some who were buried there — unfortu¬ 
nately, he did not reveal the name of his guide, but history and 
tradition both verify the truthfulness of what he wrote. Quoting 
from the Greensboro Herald of Aug. 18, 1881 : 

“In a stroll with a friend through the Greensboro’ Ceme¬ 
tery the other day we were impressed with the fact that perhaps 
very few, if any, counties in the State of Georgia can boast of 
having furnished to the world a greater number of distinguished 
and useful citizens than Greene; and no Cemetery in any town 
the size of ours probably contains the remains of so many who 
have figured prominently in the early history of this country. 
Many rich memories cluster around the graves of these repre¬ 
sentatives of past generations, who are now sleeping under the 
sod in our “city of the dead.” 

Among the first nice monuments that present themselves 
to view upon one’s entering the cemetery is the one erected to 
the memory of Justice Francis H. Cone. He was born on the 
5th of September, 1797, and died at his home here on the 18th 
of May, 1859. Judge Cone never seems to have aspired much to 


128 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


political prominence. He had been a member of the Legislature 
from this county, and Judge of the Superior Court; and as a 
Judge and Legislator he probably had no superiors. But his 
intellectual greatness and his learning as a jurist shone to its 
greatest excellence during his long professional life at the bar. 

Near by is the elegant monument of Hon. William C. Daw¬ 
son, who was born on the 16th day of January, 1798, and died 
here on the 6th day of May, 1856. Many positions of honor and 
usefulness did he fill, both in the judiciary and legislative depart¬ 
ments of the government. He was at one time U. S. Senator 
from Georgia; and was a prominent member of that body in the 
days when intellectual giants constituted its membership. 

, Not far off is the grave of Col. Y. P. King, who died in 
Aug. 1868 in the 75th year of his age. For several years he 
represented this county with ability in the Legislature and one 
or two State Constitutional Conventions. During Filmore’s ad¬ 
ministration he was U.S. Minister to Bogota in South America. 
His last public service, we believe, was rendered in the Consti¬ 
tutional Convention held at Milledgeville in 1865. But it would 
be unpardonable in us to give any extended notice of such men as 
Cone, Dawson, King and others, whose memories are still fresh 
in the minds of many of our readers. 

In this cemetery is buried Hon. Thomas W. Cobb, whose 
grave is marked by a plain marble slab. He died the 1st of 
February, 1830, in his 46th year of age. Notwithstanding he 
was a comparatively young man when he died, he had filled with 
marked ability the positions of Judge of the Superior Court, 
member of the House of Representatives in Congress, and U. S. 
Senator from Georgia. 

Our friend carried us next to the grave of Col. James 
Fauche, which is unmarked by a monument or tombstone of any 
kind. From the best information we can get he died in 1835, a 
very old man. At the time of his death he was living where 
Judge Simmerman now lives. He is reputed to have been a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War, and doubtless was. 

Gen. Thomas Dawson, brother of Hon. William C. Daw¬ 
son, lies buried here. On the slab above his body the fact is 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


129 


inscribed that he was the first male white child born in this 
county. He died on the 26th of February, 1845, about 61 years 
of age. We next visited the tomb of Dr. Thomas Wingfield, a 
very imminent physician of his day. He died on the 20th of Oc¬ 
tober, 1836, in his 59th year. In the epitaph over his grave, 
written by Col. King, is a remark which forcibly illustrates the 
character of the old Doctor:—“His faults were few; his virtues 
many; and no man took less pains to conceal the one or publish 
the other.” 

Dr. James F. Foster was buried here in the month of May, 
1861. He was in his 75th year. Dr. Foster was also an emmi- 
nent physician; and a man of a high order of intellect. The 
grave which excited as much interest in our mind as any other 
is the one which marks the last resting place of Joel Early. 
He died on the 14th of February, 1851, in his 58th year. He 
was a man naturally of powerful mind; but with it all a very 
excentric genius. There were apparently conflicting elements in 
his character. He was very wealthy. At times he was very penu¬ 
rious; then again he was a man of princely liberality. A promi¬ 
nent physician of our place (Dr. H. H. King) who was Mr. 
Early’s family physician, tells us that one occasion Mr. Early 
gave him a draft for $1,000.00, the money to be applied to cer¬ 
tain religious and charitable enterprises. The very next day per¬ 
haps he was penurious in exacting of a person in a business 
transaction to the last cent. Many interesting anecdotes are told 
of Joel Early—enough perhaps to fill a volume. 

Joel Early was a brother of Governor Peter Early. The 
latter’s remains lie buried on the convict farm in this county. 
(Governor Early’s remains have since been removed to the 
Greensboro cemetery, and re-intered by the side of his brother 
Joel). 

Mr. Vincent Sanford, so well and kindly remembered by 
many of our people, rests here. He was born April 17, 1777, 
and died May 27, 1859. He was Clerk of our Superior Court 
for twenty years before his death. No flaw was ever seen in his 
character, which was noted for its Christian virtues. Upon his 
monument, by his request, is written the words “A sinner saved 


130 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


by grace.” (Near this grave is that of Jeremiah Sanford on 
whose monument is inscribed, “JEREMIAH SANFORD, Born 
in Virginia, Nov. 4, 1739. Died, August 11, 1825. He was a 
soldier of the Revolution, a friend of Washington, and an hon¬ 
est man.”) He was the ancestor of all the Georgia Sanfords. 
Near by his grave rests the remains of his son-in-law, Robert 
E. Martin, the inimitable wit and humorist. He was born Aug. 
30, 1798, and died Dec. 13, 1859. Many years ago he was Clerk 
of the Superior Court here; and for several years he was Clerk 
of the Supreme Court of this State. 

In this galaxy of prominent men and citizens of a former 
age among the dead in our midst, the name of Hon. Thomas 
Stocks deserves mention here. He was one of the last representa¬ 
tives of past generations—was born Feb. 1, 1786, and died 
October 6, 1876. 

While giving this brief notice of Greene county’s promi¬ 
nent citizens who have been buried in our midst, we would not 
overlook entirely the noble women who sleep upon the same hill 
with them. The mothers of some we have mentioned are sleep¬ 
ing with their children; the wives of others are resting with 
their husbands. We can not now call special attention to but 
two graves of the other sex. 

We found here the tomb of Mrs. Elizabeth Julia Foster, 
mother of Dr. James F. Foster, and grandmother of Bishop 
Pierce. She was born in Virginia in September, 1767, and died 
in 1836. We believe her husband, Mr. George W. Foster, was 
buried in Columbus, Ga. Mrs. Ann Leonora, wife of Bishop 
Andrew, is also buried here. She was born July 26, 1801, and 
died at Oxford, Ga., June 10, 1954. Her maiden name was 
Mounger. She was a widow Greenwood when she married the 
Bishop. 

The above facts we gleaned here and there—many of them 
furnished us by some of the older citizens of our town. Of course 
in a newspaper article we could give only a brief notice of each 
individual mentioned; nor can we mention in one article the 
names of all who have taken prominent stands in this old county. 
Some of historic fame who were residents of this county and who 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


131 


have spent their brightest days here, are buried elsewhere. Judge 
Nisbit, we believe it was, while a member of Congress from this 
State, made use of this remark in a speech before the House of 
Representatives: “Georgia can to-day boast of what no State in 
the Union can say: one of her counties furnishes all of her repre¬ 
sentatives on this floor.” The county referred to was Greene. It 
is proper to say, however, that Greene county was then much 
larger than it is now. 

But we have cited enough instances to verify the truth of 
our proposition; and to throw around the old cemetery in our 
midst is a distinction that few can share. 

We wish were better acquainted with the memories of our 
dead. But we know of but one man who could probably come 
near doing justice to this subject: that is, Col. William H. 
Sparks of Atlanta, a native of this county; a man noted for his 
remarkable recollection of men and events, as shown in his re¬ 
cent letters to the Atlanta Constitution, and in his “Memories 
of Fifty Years.” Our people would like very much to have the 
benefit of his recollection in regard to Greene county’s distin¬ 
guished sons; many of whom he doubtless knew initimately.” 


Note: The! author of the above sketch—Judge Henry T. Lewis, 
also left his “footprints upon the sands of time” and rests among the 
distinguished dead in the old Greensboro Cemetery. He was an im¬ 
minent lawyer, able jurist; and a member of the Supreme Court of 
Georgia at the time of his death. He nominated William Jennings 
Bryan for thei presidency of the United States and rendered a Valuable 
service to his county and state. Judge Lewis was born Oct. 21, 1847. 
and died Dec. 10, 1903. 



132 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


INSCRIPTIONS COPIED FROM TOMBS IN 
THE OLIVER PORTER CEMETERY, IN 
GREENE COUNTY, GEORGIA 

By T. B. Rice 


In memory of our father 

OLIVER PORTER 
Born October 14, 1763, 

Died Aug. 20, 1838, age 
74 years 10 months 15 days. 

JAMES M. PORTER 

Died May 24, 1849, in the 
40th year of his age. 

(Son of Oliver Porter) 

Sacred to the memory of 

JAMES K. DANIEL, JR. 
Who departed this life on 
the 28th day of March 1851. 


VIOLET DANIEL 
Born the 5th day of Sept. 1785, 
Died January 27th, 1844. 

(James K. Daniel married Violet 
Bell in Prince Edward Co. Va., in 
1805) 

MARGARET PORTER 
Born April 20, 1764, 

Died March 30th, 1837. 

Aged 72 years 11 mo. 15 days. 

WILLIAM R. DANIEL 
Born April 11, 1821, 

Died May 3rd, 1843. 

THOMAS STOCKS DANIEL 
Born May 8th, 1825, 

Died November ., 1846. 


Greensboro, Ga. 

May 7, 1936 

A scrap of paper containing the following information was 
found in my files, and while it is not signed, it appears to be the 
handwriting of Mrs. T. B. Rice. It reads as follows : 

The Cemetery Committee has had the following tombstones repaired; 


Died Died 


Rev. Francis Cummins, D.D. 1832; 

and wife Sarah Cummins 1833; 

Frances Cummins McKinley 1851; 

Mary Clifford Simonton 1846; 

John West 1832; 

Four others without name 
in same enclosure; 

Gen. Thomas Dawson 1815; 

Mrs. Maria Marvin Grimes 1822; 

Anne Irving 1816; 

Mary Baker Fauche 1854; 

Mrs. Mary Wells 1819; 

Mrs. William Mitchell 1812; 


Hon. Thomas Cobb 1830; 

Sterling Grimes 1810; 

Robert Edward Musgrove 1818; 

Mary Irving 1828; 

Mrs. Adeline Gresham 1826; 

Mrs. Lucy Willis 1843; 

Louden Willis 1843; 

Mrs. Sarah Willis 1856; 

Edward S. Willis 1842; 

William Willis 1833; 

Henry Van Volkenburg 1852; 

James Ralls 1847; 

John Coleman 1841; 

Mrs. Mary Broughton 1808; 

Mary Broughton 1820; 




HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


133 


This seems to be a report of the Treasurer of the Ceme¬ 
tery Committee. And, had this committee not shown enough 
interest in the past—many of these markers would have disap¬ 
peared long ago. 


Note: Mrs. Rice says she was Sec’y-Treasurer of this committee 
about 1900, and that a number of patriotic women paid to have the 
markers re-set. 


T. B. Rice, 

Historian for Greene County 


Churchyard 

Bethesda Baptist Church 
Greene County 

This church was constituted 1785 and the church built 
1818—near the steps is a Government marker to the Revolu¬ 
tionary Soldier, Samuel Whatley, Private Georgia Troops, Rev¬ 
olutionary war—Died 1820. 

A stone erected to the memory of Jesse Mercer’s children 
was removed from their burial place and is in this churchyard: 

“Miriam Mercer— 

The first died in Virginia Sept. 21, aged 9 months and 21 

days. 

The 2nd lies here—died Dec. 15, 1814, aged 9 years, 8 
months, 2 days. 


Old graves in this cemetery 

Thomas Redmon Thornton, died Dec. 2, 1867, aged 39 
years, 24 days. 

Martha A., wife of Thomas R. Thornton, born Jan. 23, 
1829; died Aug. 10, 1887. 

Phoeriba, wife of Rev. V. R. Thornton, born June 20, 
1808; died Feb. 17, 1881. 


134 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Vincent Redmon Thornton, born July 17, 1805; died April 
4, 1850. 


TOMB OF ARTHUR FOSTER; 
The inscription reads as follows: 

ARTHUR FOSTER 
Born in Halifax County, Virginia, 
January 15, 1757. 

Died in Greenei County, Georgia, 
July 25, 1846. 

He served his country in her Rev¬ 
olutionary struggle and died in the 
service of his God in full hope of 
Heaven. 


The reverse side of shaft reads: 

HANNAH FOSTER 
Born in Union District, S. C. 

November 25, 1775. 

Died in Greene County, Ga., 

January 20, 1856. 

The name of Hannah Foster is recorded as being one of 
the charter members of New Hope Baptist Church, organized 
on January 15, 1800. 

The name of Arthur Foster does not appear on the New 
Hope church roll, but his son, Moses F. Foster does appear. He 
was a deacon and Church Clerk in the year 1846-69. 

The Church minutes of Jan. 19, 1856, read as follows: 
“Sister Hannah Foster died at three quarter past ten o’clock on 
Sunday night, January the 20, 1856.” 

(This minutes was signed by M. F. Foster, C. Clerk). 

Col. Albert Foster, son of Arthur and Hannah Foster, 
moved to Madison, Morgan County, Ga., at an early date. He 
was the father of the late Judge Fred Foster who was the 
father of Col. Albert Foster who still resides in Madison. Moses 
F. Foster was a brother of Colonel Albert Foster, Revolutionary 
soldier. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


135 


The handsome marble shaft that jmarks the graves of 
Arthur and Hannah Foster, is within a tumbled down rock wall. 
There are evidences of other graves within the wall, but they 
are not marked. Around the walled enclosure there are other 
graves—several rudely marked, and the name Stanley can be 
read. 

This old cemetery is one and one-half miles north of 
Greshamville, on the left-hand side of the road leading to 
Wrayswood, and some one hundred yards from the old Foster 
home. 


LANDMARKS AND LEGENDS 

Medora Fields Perkarson’s history of St. Phillips Cathed¬ 
ral that appeared in the Magazine section of the Atlanta Journ¬ 
al of October 30th, 1932, brought to mind an old grave in the 
Greensboro cemetery. There are two inscriptions on the marble 
slab that covers this old walled up grave, that reads as follows: 

“In memory of Lewis Preston Thompson, M.D. 

Originally from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 

Who died in Greensboro, Georgia, March 8, 1840. 

In the 35th year of his age.” 

The other inscription reads— 

“In memory of James Rondleston Benney 
of Philadelphia. 

A Jr. Member of the Engineering Corps 
of the Georgia Railroad & Banking Company. 

Who died October 27, 1838, in the 18th year 
of his age. 

The Journal’s story concerning the origin of St. Phillips 
says: “Several cultured gentlemen, who were engaged in survey¬ 
ing the Georgia Railroad, and who were accustomed to the 
beautiful services of the church, wished to establish a place of 
worship while away from their home. Prominent among them 
was J. Edgar Thompson of Philadelphia.” That was in 1847. 


136 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Greensboro was the terminus of the Georgia Railroad for 
some years before it reached Atlanta. And the Engineering 
crew made Greensboro their headquarters for a number of years. 
It is said that, J. Edgar Thompson referred to above, was a 
brother of Dr. Lewis Preston Thompson who died in Greens¬ 
boro in 1840. And that both of them were connected with the 
building of the Georgia Railroad. Tradition says: “The young 
engineer Benney refugeed from Augusta on account of Yellow 
fever, and the dreaded disease developed after he reached here 
and that Dr. Thompson treated him. It is also said, that the 
Georgia Railroad & Banking Company had the slab placed over 
the graves of these faithful employees. 

Speaking of old graves; there is another grave in the 
Greensboro cemetery that has caused a lot of speculation on ac¬ 
count of a snake that is carved on the slab that covers the grave. 
Tradition says that, the lady who was buried beneath the slab, 
died from the bite of a snake. In fact, this story has been told 
SO' often and so long, that I dislike to refute the legend. The 
inscription reads as follows: 

“In Memory of Mrs. Mary Irving. 

Born in 1750. Died in 1828. 

Aged 78 Years. 

She was a “Mother in Israel.” 

A crooked line is chiseled the full length of the slab, and 
is supposed to represent a path leading to a spring. Beside the 
path, is carved a snake partly coiled and ready to> strike. The 
story is, that rthe lady was bitten by the snake while on her way 
to the spring, and that she died before reaching home. 

ANCIENT LANDMARKS AND GRAVES 
By T. B. Rice 

Back in the days when Greene County “Blossomed like a 
Rose” and every plantation had a “Big House” and all that 
it implied, cities and towns meant little or nothing to them, ex¬ 
cept a place to buy what they did not produce on their 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


137 


own farms; and when a member of the family died they were 
buried in the family cemetery, and in most instances, the graves 
were marked either with simple or handsome tombstones. 

As times and conditions changed, and the lure of the towns 
gripped the rising generations, the old home was either sold or 
abandoned and the graves of ancestors became neglected. 

In many instances the new owners cared nothing for these 
sacred spots, and as a rule, the family cemeteries occupied very 
choice spots of ground; and, in some instances, the new owners 
cut down the handsome trees and shrubbery, cast the gravestones 
in a nearby gully, covered them with rubbish, and planted the 
old graveyard in cotton or other crops. 

Fortunately, such procedure is against the law, and in a 
few instances, such vandalism has been punished by terms in the 
chaingang. However, such desecrations have been less frequent 
in Greene than in some other counties—but they have been all 
too numerous in Greene. 

There are more people who are now interested in locating 
the graves of their ancestors than at any other period of the 
history of our cemetery; and more than one hundred people 
have searched for the graves of their ancestors, in Greene Coun¬ 
ty, within the past year, and some have been successful while 
many others have been disappointed, and in some instances, the 
disappointment was due to vandalism. 


A Case of Vandalism in Greensboro: 

In the long, long ago, there was a beautiful girl whom M. 
H. Sparks, referred to as “Sweet Adeline” in his “Memories of 
Fifty Years,” and whose grave he visited when he visited the 
“City of the Dead” in the Greensboro cemetery after an ab¬ 
sence of more than fifty years. Adeline had been his sweetheart 
when they were schoolmates; Sparks went west to make his 
fortune while Adeline remained at home and became the reign¬ 
ing belle of Greensboro society. She became the wife of a bril¬ 
liant young lawyer by the name of Albert Gresham. She was the 
daughter of Thomas W. and Charity Grimes. 


138 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


No one now living, knew any of the people who were con¬ 
nected with this narrative; but the tradition that has been handed 
down is well authenticated, and has to do with the grave of this 
young wife who was born in Greensboro, Ga., in the year 1806. 

In the center of the old part of the Greensboro cemetery, 
there is an old fashioned bricked up grave on top of which rests 
a marble slab some six feet in length, and bears the following 
inscription: 

Sacred 

To the memory of Lucy Adeline Gresham, 

Wife of Albert Gresham, 

Died April 16, 1826, in the 20th year 
of her age. 


Back in those days, Greensboro boasted of a Bakery and 
Candy Factory, the name of the owner is immaterial; but the 
bakery was in the cellar, under the store now owned and opera¬ 
ted by Mr. Lawrence Boswell. A stairway led from the sidewalk 
to the basement, and the oven was under the sidewalk; an eight 
inch cast iron flue that carried off the smoke stood at the edge 
of the sidewalk up to a few years ago. 

This underground bakery had a sales room for customers, 
but few people had access to the workroom therefore the secret 
process of baking and candy-making was carefully guarded by 
the owner. 

Shortly after the death of Lucy Adeline Grimes-Gresham, 
Mrs. Grimes ordered a marble slab to mark the grave of her 
beloved daughter. Sometime after the slab had been placed over 
the grave, it mysteriously disappeared and no trace of it could 
be found. If any knew where it was, they were as dumb as a 
clam. However, the old saying that “murder will out” proved 
true in this instance. 

In some way, Mrs. Grimes learned that there was a susp- 
picious looking marble slab in the underground bakery, and 
which was being used in making candy. She immediately paid 
the bakery a visit and demanded that she be shown the slab. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


139 


Whether willingly or unwillingly, the baker led the way to the 
secret chamber where the slab lay upside-down upon a table. The 
surface revealed nothing more than a smoothly polished marble 
slab. She demanded that she be shown the under-side, and Alas! 
it revealed the name of her beloved daughter. . . 

“They say” Aunt Charity engaged in some conversation 
that her name did not imply; and that the baker did not mis¬ 
understand her meaning, and that her untimatum was, that if 
the slab was not thoroughly cleaned and placed where it belong¬ 
ed by daybreak the next morning, the aforesaid baker would 
find himself in the old Rock Jail that stands just behind the 
courthouse. . . . The slab was immediately put where it had been 
stolen from. 


Chapter VI 


GROWTH 

Jeremiah Sanford in 1784 dictated this epitaph for his 
tombstone “He was a soldier of the Revolution, a friend of 
Washington and an honest man”. Most of these early settlers 
of Greene County were settlers with their families seeking to 
earn a living, honestly. 

Some of the settlers were sons and daughters of planta¬ 
tion owners in Virginia and North Carolina, many had fought 
in the Revolution and received headright offers of 287 
acres of land with 50 acres added for each child and each 
slave. Many others came in on horseback with only a long 
flintrock rifle to kill such game as needed to supply his wants 
and to protect himself from outlaws. He found a desirable 
spot to build his one room log cabin near a spring of water 
and a trail. He could hobble his horse to feed on the wild 
oats and grasses while he cleared the forests to plant his patch¬ 
es of corn, beans, potatoes and tobacco. As soon as he could, 
he split the rails that fenced in his crops. 

Of course there were the adventurers, speculators and 
squatters who preferred to live as far as possible from their 
old haunts, for reasons best known to themselves. 

Some men drew land lots and later when they came in 
to settle they found squatters living on and claiming their 
land. The real owner, on showing his title would force them to 
leave. Some speculators would build a cabin, clear some land 
and sell out for a good profit and move on to newer counties 
where land could be bought cheaply. 

The real settlers who stayed, found deer, turkey, squirrels, 
rabbits and other game. The clear cool streams furnished 
plenty of fish, and soon he had vegetables for the table. For 
clothing, his flocks of sheep and his cotton patches furnished 
his wife with materials for the spinning wheel, the loom and 
knitting needles. 


140 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


141 


The tobacco and indigo were marketed in Augusta. “To¬ 
bacco Road”, was the route to Augusta over which the wooden 
hogsheads which were six feet high and eight or ten feet long, 
traveled. The cash received for their crops afforded them cof¬ 
fee, iron tools, medicine, needles and buttons, guns and am¬ 
munition. A few families bought books for their children. 

By 1788 there were twelve land owners with over 1,000 
acres each. John Swepson, William Daniel, Jesse Battle, James 
Adams and Robert Middleton. Some others owning large tracts 
were Oliver Porter, Silas Mercer, William Burford, William 
Glenn and Walter Harris. 

Some of these settlers had brought slaves with them. 
James Showest had 32, William Lawson and John Thomas 
had 19 each, John Mitchell and Charles Abercrombie had 20 
each. The number of slaves increased rapidly so that by 1800 
about half the families owned some slaves. Those men owning 
most slaves were; Joel Early, Thomas Grimes, William Green, 
Redmond Thornton, James Park, John Crutchfield, George 
W. Foster, Absalom Lawrence and George Dawson. 

The year 1810 found 12,000 people, with half of them 
slaves. The first will to be recorded in Greene County was that 
of Joseph Smith, a surveyor, with 300 acres, 17 cows, 4 horses, 
3 Bibles but he had no slaves. 

By now there were also substantial houses built by Benja¬ 
min Weaver, Joel Early, Jonas Fauche, Nicholas Lewis and 
Redman Thornton. 

The children were first taught in the homes by tutors, 
and many poor children went without schooling. In 1786 there 
was a one teacher school. Culture crept in as the people had 
more time for leisure. By 1803 Greensboro was having a 
weekly mail service. A letter could be mailed for ten to fifteen 
cents for one page and the mail route included Columbia court¬ 
house, Louisville, Washington, Savannah, Sparta, Warrenton, 
Georgetown and Augusta. 

Greene County felt proud of her son, Peter Early, son of 
Joel, who became Governor of Georgia in 1812 and showed 


142 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


his ability by greatly aiding the war at that time, by making 
available to the young nation, state funds and men. When he 
was criticized for this, he replied, “Georgia would survive or 
go down with the other colonies”. 

The first newspaper in Greene County in 1807 was call¬ 
ed, “The Observator”. 

A road had been laid out across the Indian country by 
Sam Dale from Greensboro to Walnut Hill (Vicksburg) on 
the Mississippi River called the Three-Chopt Road. The road 
was marked by three chops with an ax on trees for hundreds of 
miles through virgin forests. 

Greene County boasted a gold mine with Yelverton P. 
King as custodian and Templeton Reid coining ten dollar gold 
pieces. 

Zachariah Sims established at Scull Shoals the first paper 
mill with a loan of $3,000 from the Legislature. (1810) 

William Ellison had sued William Veazy for a saw gin 
delivered before 1800 and records show that it was not the 
kind Eli Whitney had made. This gin was probably in opera¬ 
tion before Whitney’s gin came out. 

There was “Ye Eagle Tavern”, where accomodations 
were available for stagecoach travelers, with the best of foods 
and liquors. 

Court records show that grand juries condemned pro¬ 
fane swearing, drinking, fiddling, gambling and card playing. 
Parading stud horses on Main Street and riding them to church 
was forbidden. Little attention was paid to most of these re¬ 
commendations by the grand jury. 

Cotton now covered the land with its snowy balls and the 
new gins speeded slavery and cotton culture and increased the 
demand for an outlet to the sea. Wagon trains had carried 
cotton to Augusta but now in 1811 the Oconee Navigation 
Company was chartered and some of the stockholders were: 
Thomas Stocks, James Troup, Peter Early, James Park, and 
Zachariah Sims. Soon obstructions were cleared from the river 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


143 


and boats loaded with cotton made their way down the river 
to Darian. After the War of 1812 there was a great demand 
for cotton to be exported to Europe. More high priced slaves 
were brought in, land values rose, more tradesmen came in to 
make their homes and do business. There was a great demand 
for educated men and their opportunities for advancement were 
unlimited. There was a great demand for overseers, military 
leaders, lawyers, doctors, teachers, political leaders and mer¬ 
chants. 

The rapid-fire creation of new counties throughout Geor¬ 
gia brought with it the necessity for new officers, and the man 
with the ability for leadership, who arrived first could almost 
count on a political career. 

Due to the spirit of unrest and craving for greener pas¬ 
tures and the urge to seek new lands we find many early fami¬ 
lies completely disappearing from the records here, only to re¬ 
appear in some new section of western Georgia or the new state 
of Alabama. 

Although the post war boom brought tremendous changes 
in the economic life of the county the spiritual life did not keep 
pace with it and the preachers from over the county were com¬ 
menting on the “low state of religion and the abounding ini¬ 
quity.” (History of Ga. Baptists). 

The dozen sturdy forts built on the Oconee by the set¬ 
tlers for protection against the Indians were falling down and 
were no longer needed and the last of the lands in the County 
were taken up. The last lottery was in 1826. In 1813 we find 
many pioneer customs still in use. Some wagon trains still went 
to Baltimore, a hard trip of 600 miles, to take cotton and bring 
back supplies. A white woman accused of being a scold and 
gossip was ducked in Richland Creek. (See Picture) There was 
still much frontier rowdiness such as shooting off a cannon in 
the center of Greensboro causing considerable damage and 
frightening the citizens. One man was branded on the thumb 
with an M for being a murderer and served time in the jail. 

By 1820 great blocks of land were being bought up by the 
aristocrats to make larger plantations, and cotton was king. 


144 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Their plantations were self sustaining, they grew all of the 
food, the shelter and the clothes they needed. The family 
drove to church in a fine carriage. The poorer people frowned 
on such a display of worldiness, yet longed for the same things. 
They began to feel the pinch of the large land owners and some 
sold out and moved on while others worked their own lands, 
were thrifty and had no slaves. 

The early settlers named the creeks, English names, while 
the rivers were named by the Indians. The creeks were: Rich¬ 
land, Beaver Dam, Towns, Fishing, Greenbriar and others. 
The rivers were the Oconee, Apalachee and Ogeechee. 

From 1820 on, the county entered a new era of growth 
and prosperity, peace, politics and plenty, and until 1861 when 
the black curtain of the Civil War descended, this was the golden 
era. 


EARLY MANUFACTURERS 

Now that Greene County was out of the hard pioneer 
days and striding ahead. She was producing more cotton than 
any county in the state. She had some factories built. Some of 
these were: Barber and Davis, who made clocks, three cotton 
mills, several wagon shops, cotton gins, blacksmith, silversmith 
and other minor factories. 


COTTON GINS 

Eli Whitney born in 1765 graduated from Yale at 27 years 
of age went South to tutor, but on arriving found that the job 
had been filled. He was invited to Mulberry Grove by the widow 
Mrs. Nathaniel Greene and while there he invented the crude cot¬ 
ton gin which was a revolving drum which dragged cotton 
through a sieve of wire. The seeds remained behind and a re¬ 
volving brush swept them into a container. The machine was 
turned with a hand crank and it could clean as much cotton in 
one hour as several men could clean all day. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


145 


Whitney’s cotton gin changed American history and helped 
to bring on a terrible war. Before the cotton gin, slavery had 
been slowly dying out in the South and plantation owners were 
talking about freeing their slaves, but not more cotton could be 
grown and more slaves were bought to supply the labor, and 
the ships waiting in the harbors for the fleecy staple were 
loaded. 

After several years Whitney went to New Haven, Conn, 
and established a gun and pistol factory and supplied the North 
with the weapons which defeated the South. Thus one man un¬ 
knowingly changed the history of a country. 

Miller and Whitney’s patent, or exclusive right to manu¬ 
facture cotton gins was issued by Congress, and not by the 
state of Georgia. When it expired in 1807, the Georgia Legis¬ 
lature sent a strong protest against renewing or giving Miller 
and Whitney the exclusive right to make and sell cotton gins. 
This protest was endorsed by the Governor of Georgia and 
is recorded in Clayton’s Digest of the Laws of Georgia 1801- 
1810, p. 685. 

Miller and Whitney had a monopoly on manufacturing 
cotton gins and were charging exhorbitant prices for their gins. 
They had established a few gins and were taking a heavy toll 
from farmers who carried their cotton to be ginned. This 
brought about infringements on their patent, retarded the 
planting of cotton and many “bootleg” gins were sold to farm¬ 
ers. Miller and Whitney brought many suits against both the 
manufacturers of gins and the farmers who bought and used 
them. This created much prejudice against Miller and Whit¬ 
ney and brought about a renewed effort to get their letters 
of patent canceled or a refusal to renew it. 

GEORGIA’S FIRST PAPER MILL 

Zachariah Sims was noted for his pugilistic prowess and 
in the records of Greene County Superior Court, he was in¬ 
dicted and prosecuted a number of times for wielding his fists 
to the injury of those who crossed his path. He was a mechani¬ 
cal genius and persuaded George Paschal, a distant relative, to 


146 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


go with him to a place on the banks of the Oconee river, called 
Scull Shoals. There they put all they had into a mill for the 
manufacture of paper. (1812) 

The war with Great Britian excluded the foreign paper, 
on which we had depended, so this led to the establishment of 
the first paper mill in Georgia. Sims and Paschal launched the 
new enterprise. 

The Georgia Legislature under Gov. Mitchell recognized 
the need for a paper mill and passed an act authorizing the 
State to lend Zachariah Sims $3,000 to complete the mill. 
Sims’ Mill was a combination of a grist mill, distillery, paper 
mill and other adjuncts. 

The mill finally failed and Sims’ property went under 
the Sheriff’s hammer and was bought for a low price by Thomas 
Stokes. Thomas Stokes re-sold it to his brother-in-law, Thomas 
Ligon, who converted it into a public ginnery, the first ginnery 
built in Greene County. Many years later this property was 
acquired by Dr. Thomas N. Poullain and his associates. 

Dr. Poullain and his associates then built the first cotton 
mill in Greene County and named it “The Scull Shoals Manu¬ 
facturing Co.” This factory was incorporated in the early 
1870’s and around it grew up a community of 500 people, a 
post office and a large commissary. (Factory built about 1840.) 

Dr. Curtwright was the leading spirit of another enter¬ 
prise, and operated wagon trains from the mill to Greensboro 
each day in the week. Curtwright inaugurated a type of rural 
free mail delivery all his own, long before the R. F. D. was 
thought of. The mail was delivered and picked up all along 
this route and he rendered a valuable service. Judge James B. 
Park once lived in this community, Long Shoals. 

Long Shoals, once a beauty spot of Greene County has long 
since passed into oblivion, and only a few old timers repeat the 
story of its glory. 

There is an old book named “Agnes Paschal, Ninety-Four 
Years” written by George W. Paschel a son of Agnes, who 
was the widow of a Revolutionary soldier. Her husband was 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


147 


a partner of Zachariah Sims in the first paper mill built in Ga. 
The book tells of the records in Greene Co. showing that Zac¬ 
hariah Sims was indicted for wielding his fists in many fights 
many times and he was prosecuted for same. 

It also states that the paper mill did make paper although 
it was a failure in the end. It made paper at a time that it sup¬ 
plied the need that was very acute during the war of 1812. That 
is why the Ga. Legislature voted to lend Sims & Pascall the 
$3,000 to finish the mill. 

Agnes Paschal was Agnes Brewer and married George 
Paschal on Nov. 23, 1802 at the home of Richard Bailey near 
Lexington. Agnes fed the men that worked in these mills own¬ 
ed by Sims and Paschal and boarded many of them, no doubt 
she worked harder than the owners. Her husband George 
bought one of the first gins made by Eli Whitney and establish¬ 
ed it on Troublesome Creek, so named because of the Indian 
raids there. She said that Sims lived far in advance of the times 
then, that he was a mechanical genius of an inventive turn; he 
would have been a geologist had the science been known, he 
would have made a success of his paper mill had protection and 
manufacturing been further developed. The book mentions the 
smart Irish youth, George Russell, a brilliant scholar who 
knew Hebrew, Greek, Latin and could solve any problem. He 
greatly helped in getting the paper mill to run with less labor 
but after two years of endearing himself to the family of Pas¬ 
chal and Sims he vanished as he had come, and no one ever 
heard of him again. 

After the mill failed, George Paschal taught school in 
Oglethorpe County and had five boys, the writer of the book, 
“Agnes Paschal, Ninety-Four years” was the fifth and named 
Lorenzo Columbus George Washington Paschal. The boys 
called him “General” but he signed his name George W. Pas¬ 
chal. 


Zachariah Sims later made cotton gins and carding ma¬ 
chines and was an extensive manufacturer, living to be an old 
man. 


148 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GREENE COUNTY INDUSTRIES 

Virgil Roberts, was the uncle of our esteemed fellow- 
townsman, John L. Youngblood. Virgil Roberts operated a 
cabinet shop in Greensboro for many years, and among other 
things, he made fine walnut and cedar coffins. After burial 
caskets became an article of merchandise, he packed up his 
tools and other equipment and moved to Atlanta and opened 
a shop there. And as “Tech” added him to its staff of Master- 
mechanics soon after it was opened, we must conclude that he 
had made a reputation as a master-workman in his adopted 
home. Mr. Roberts remained at “Tech” until his death, which 
occurred just a few years ago. (1940) 

The Moncrief Furnace Company of Atlanta, came into 
existence through the knowledge of metal-work that the Mon¬ 
crief boys gained in the old Tin shop of their Uncle, W. G. 
Durham, in Greensboro. 

John F. Zimmerman operated a tin shop on a large 
scale for many years, and employed a number of workmen. 
His wares were peddled by wagons that went in every direc¬ 
tion. His peddlers swapped tin-ware for rags, beeswax, chick¬ 
ens, eggs, and every other commodity that could be had on the 
farms. Of course they got some money, but the greatest vo¬ 
lume of the trade consisted of barter. 

Bowen & Sitton operated an extensive Carriage and Buggy 
shop in Greensboro from soon after the close of the War be¬ 
tween the States, and up to 1880; and they worked a number 
of men. Their shop was located where the post office now 
stands, and took most of that block that faces on Broad St. 

W. D. Grant operated a carriage, buggy, and wagon shop 
at White Plains for many years. Later, the White Plains Manu¬ 
facturing Company bought Mr. Grant’s shop and operated it 
for a long time. Their brands of farm wagons went under the 
names of Acme and Monarch, and were equal to any shipped 
here by the leading manufacturers in the larger industrial 
centers.. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


149 


John A. Miller and F. C. McKinley both operated black¬ 
smith shops on a large scale in Greensboro, McKinley operat¬ 
ed in the eighteen-forties. We find where he sued one of his 
farmer-customers for shop-work for the year 1844, for $108.- 
50. The entries in his charge-book had to be copied on the 
Court records, and took up five pages. The attorneys for the 
defendant was James C. Dawson and Thomas S. F. Thweatt. 

John A. Miller’s charge-book for 1855 shows page after 
page of charges against such men as O. P. Daniel, John E. 
Jackson, Dr. Columbus Park, C. A. Davis, Samuel Davis, 
James B. Nickelson, Rev. Francis Bowman, B. F. Greene, Ru¬ 
bin Dawson, William C. Dawson, James Burk, Thomas Cun¬ 
ningham, Phillip Poullain, John Branch, Francis H. Cone, Dr. 
D. C. O’Keif, Hinton Crawford, John H. Broughton, Dr. 
Henry King, Jesse Champion, W. W. D. Weaver, Mrs. Mary 
Colt, Greensboro Manufacturing Company, Greensboro Female 
College, Mrs. Joel Early, Valentine Gresham, Vincent Sanford, 
Thomas Stocks, and many other Greene County farmers. The 
articles enumerated would indicate that the blacksmith of that 
day, took the place of the hardware dealer, if indeed there 
was any such thing, and many of the accounts were large. 

Many of the large farmers had blacksmith and wood- 
shops on their farms; and there were blacksmith shops at near¬ 
ly every cross-road. There was also what was known as “tra¬ 
veling blacksmiths”; and many of these were slaves who bought 
their time from their masters. One of the best known “travel¬ 
ing blacksmiths” was Jack Terrell, whose master lived where 
Mr. Kyle Smith now lives, and who owned a large farm in 
what is known as the “lower-fork”. Jack would go about from 
place-to-place and do shop work for those who needed his 
services, collect for work done, and move on to another place. 
Usually, on Christmas day, he would settle with his master for 
his time out, and make another agreement for the following 
year. In addition to being a good blacksmith, Jack was a good 
business man, and laid up a neat sum over and above what he 
had to pay his master for his time. 

Other colored artisans bought their time in the same 
way, and did much of the building both in town and country. 


150 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Supply-merchants bought steel and iron in all widths, 
thicknesses, and lengths; and “Sweeds” were considered the 
best for plows etc. Blacksmiths would buy their iron in long 
lengths, mark it off by patterns, cut it out with cold chisels, 
heat the pieces after they had been cut, and shape them accord¬ 
ing to the wishes of their customers. The solid sweeps, turn- 
plows, bull-tongues etc, were set to suit the land of the farm¬ 
er they were made for, instead of being made by one general 
pattern, as the factories turn them out now. The music of the 
hammer and anvil was as much in evidence in the long-ago as 
the radio and phonograph in the smaller towns of today; and 
the leather aprons of the blacksmith were badges of honor and 
rugged character. Such scenes as were described by the poet 
when he wrote, “Beneath the spreading chestnut tree, the vil¬ 
lage smithy stands” will be about all the future generations 
will know about this useful artisan of the long ago. There was 
the old-time blacksmith at his forge, the old shoemaker on his 
bench, and the old time carpenter who actually served an ap¬ 
prenticeship under a master-workman like Daniel Pratt, who 
built some of the finest homes in Savannah, Milledgeville, and 
Clinton long before he became the world’s greatest cotton gin 
manufacturer. Pratt’s homes stand today as Georgia’s finest 
examples of early architecture, and are prized by their owners 
far beyond the dollars they originally cost, and cannot be dupli¬ 
cated for the reason that, such timber cannot be had at any 
price, and no builder will take the time, or have the patience 
and skill to do such work. 

THE PISTOL FACTORY AT GREENSBORO 

March 13, 1863: John Cunningham sold the old factory 
which he had bought from James L. Brown for $800.00 to 
Leech and Rigdon of Memphis, Tenn. for $20,000 and they 
converted the building into a pistol factory, where they made 
pistols and repaired guns for the Confederate government. I 
have not been able to find records in any state papers, but L. D. 
Satterlee of Detroit. Mich, has been engaged in writing a his¬ 
tory of all the fire arms manufactured in the United States 
and accidently ran across one of the old Leech & Rigdon pistols 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


151 


made in Greensboro, Ga. He wrote to Dr. Rice for information 
about the factory and between them they not only established 
the fact, but found three living witnesses who saw the pistol 
factory in operation. They were: C. C. Vincent of Greensboro, 
Ga., Charles A. Davis of Atlanta, and Grif Askew. (1940) 

OTHER MINOR FACTORIES 

The Southern Cotton Oil Co. built an oil mill at Greens¬ 
boro about 1902 and operated it for a number of years and 
also a large public ginnery. 

There was another large ginnery in Greensboro known 
as the, “All-Steel Gin Company.” 

Union Point, Siloam, White Plains, Veazey, Woodville, 
Penfield, and Wrayswood also had large ginning plants. 

Fertilizer mixing plants were in operation in Union Point, 
Greensboro and White Plains for many years but were aban¬ 
doned by 1930 due to the advent of the boll weevil and the 
migration of labor. Fertilizer used has been trucked in from 
larger chemical plants since then. 

These were in operation in the ante-bellum days carriage 
and buggy factories, woodshops, blacksmith shops, tanneries, 
harness shops, shoe shops, corn and flour mills. Young men 
and boys served apprenticeships under master workmen; and 
it was through their skill that many of Georgia’s largest in¬ 
dustries got their start. 

THE FIRST COTTON BAGGING 

From the Greensboro-Herald-Journal of Fri. Feb. 28, 
1890 comes a story saying that the first cotton bagging actually 
made of cotton, was manufactured in Greensboro in 1862. 

R. J. Dawson of Greshamville says in this article: “The 
first cotton bagging made for covering of bales of cotton was 
made at Scull Shoals Factory, later Fontenoy Mills, in Greene 
County, Ga. by Dr. T. N. Poulliam in 1862. It was the best 
article of its kind I ever saw and weighed two pounds per 


152 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


yard. The first iron hoops used for the baling of cotton were 
made by John Webb of Newton Co., Ga. in 1838. He first 
made wooden hoops and locked them like barrel hoops and 
shipped the cotton to Thomas Dawson & Sons, Augusta, Ga. 
I never heard of a patent for these things, I am sure if he had 
known what a fortune he had in his hands he would have utiliz¬ 
ed it.” 

Dr. Curtwright owned “The Curtwright Manufacturing 
Co.” at Long Shoals on the Oconee River. Cost of property, 
$140,000, spindles and looms 4,000,and also had flouring and 
saw mills. He owned a stone bridge across the Oconee River 
built by him. Curtwright kept a fleet of six mule teams on the 
road at all times hauling his products to Greensboro and sup¬ 
plies back to the mill. The hames on each mule had a bell on 
it, so that the constant jingle of the bells kept the people in¬ 
formed of his coming. Curtwright instructed his drivers to 
carry articles or mail for the people living along the road to 
and from town free of charge. 

Scull Manufacturing Company was situated at Scull Shoals 
on the Oconee River. Cost, $50,000. Spindles and looms 2,000. 
Annual consumption of cotton 4,000 bales. Annual value of 
goods $200,000. 

The Greensboro Manufacturing Co. located at Greens¬ 
boro had steam as motive power, cost $70,000, spindles 4,000. 

Of the three cotton manufacturies above there is hardly 
a trace to be found. The only descendants of the stockholders 
now living in 1837 are: Mrs. James B. Park and Mrs. Henry 
T. Lewis. Both are granddaughters of Dr. Poullain who own¬ 
ed the Scull Shoals factory. The main source of labor for these 
plants was slave labor and after the destruction of the war the 
mills had to close down for lack of money and labor. 

Park’s Mill on the Oconee built by Richard Park about 
1840 was burned by Sherman’s forces Nov. 1864. 640 acres of 
this land was in Morgan County. Richard Park died in 1852. 
Judge James B. Park, Sr. rebuilt the mill with Col. J. N. Armor 
and Greene Moore in 1866. After many years the factory clos¬ 
ed down and fell into decay. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


153 


The Greensboro Manufacturing Co. was converted into 
a gun factory during the Civil War. Henry P. Williams of 
Macon, son of James B. Williams, and Charlie Williams of 
White Plains ran this factory for the Confederacy until the 
end of the war. 

After the war, manufacturing soon ceased in Greene Coun¬ 
ty. What was left of old cotton mills was sold for junk and it 
was not until the late 1890’s that enough could be scraped to¬ 
gether to build more factories. 

Judge James B. Park, Sr., wielded a tremendous political 
influence in Greene County up to the time of his death. He re¬ 
presented the County in the legislature for many years and 
was Chr. of the Co. Commissioners. He helped Greene County 
from being prostrate after the war to rise again. His son 
Judge James B. Park, Jr. was Judge of the Ocmulgee circuit for 
a long time and was greatly respected and loved. 

In 1898 the Union Manufacturing Co. of Union Point 
was incorporated. Those who signed the petition for the chart¬ 
er were: John C. Hart, Samuel H. Sibley, R. F. Bryan, and 
T. A. Burke. Hale Sibley was the first Pres. This mill made 
hosiery and yarns. It was reorganized in 1900 with Harold 
Lamb as its Pres. Its capital was $162,400 and annual value of 
products were: $300,000. The 1930 census gives Union Point 
a population of 1,627. 

The Mary-Leila Cotton Mill was organized in 1899 and 
this list is given so that you may know that the loyal citizens 
were interested in trying to do something for their town and 
county when money was hard and scarce. E. A. Copeland, W. 
R. Jackson, Sr., J. B. Park, Jr., T. B. Rice, Hall Bros., J. B. 
Williams, James Davison, James E. Armor, Walter F. Armor, 
H. M. Spinks, L. J. Boswell, C. M. King, T. C. Griswold, 
Morris and Evans Bros., F. C. Bickers, Amy Geissler, C. D. 
Lundy, C. L. Harris, Mrs. S. E. Whitaker, R. B. Smith, A, 
H. Smith, T. T. Brown, H. T. Brinkley, Jr. Minnie Linton, 
W. L. Bethea, W. M. Weaver, John T. Boswell, J. C. Boswell, 
J. O. Boswell Mary D. Jackson, Geo. P. Culver, Mrs. Ed¬ 
ward Young, G. A. Hall, L. H. Branch, G. A. Merritt, B. C. 


154 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


McWhorter, S. E. Jopling, R. W. Branch, Greensboro Shoes and 
Clothing Co., J. P. Brown, A. L. Bickers, W. P. McWhorter, 
J. M. Thompson, J. H. McWhorter, J. L. Brown, Jr., T. A. 
Branch, H. G. Lewis, Mrs. E. E. Branch, J. L. Youngblood, 
H. T. Lewis, P. G. Moore, J. W. Wright, L. P. Jernigan, B. 
F. McWhorter, W. A. Kimbrough, W. S. Davis, M. J. Ross- 
man, J. E. Torbert, D. N. Asbury, E. S. Dixon, A. S. Seals, 
Chas. A. Davis, E. C. Hixon, R. J. Lowery, Rudolph Geissler, 
S. H. Phelan, J. P. Dawson, Marion Morgan, Alexander & 
Alexander. 

Of these original 68 petitioners only 25 were living in 1925. 
The capital paid in was, $83,000 and equipping mill $120,000. 

GOLD IN GREENE COUNTY IN 1854 

“A gold mine has been discovered in this county about one 
mile from Public Square and ten or twelve miles from Pen- 
field and is thought to be very rich. A vein fifteen feet wide 
has been opened and four laborers in four days have gathered 
a half pound of this precious metal. Robert Foster of our vill¬ 
age is the largest owner and is now working the mine with a 
limited number of hands. He has shown us several specimens of 
the gold which to our eye is very fine, and from present pros¬ 
pects our people will hear as much of the gold of Greene County 
as the gold of California.” (Quote from paper in 1854) 

Templeton Reid’s father was a Revolutionary soldier and 
received a Head-Right grant in Greene County; but owing to 
the various ways of spelling of names at that time-Reed, Read, 
and Reid makes it difficult to connect families, however, Sam¬ 
uel Reid seems to have been the progenitor of Templeton, 
and was engaged in the milling business at an early date, on 
the Oconee River. Reid & Garner’s mill was located at, or 
near Reid’s ferry, about where the Greensboro-Eatonton road 
crosses the Oconee, and probably, on the Putnam side of the 
river. If this be true, the old miller may not have charged his 
Greene County customers toll to cross over his ferry; but he 
may have tolled their grain a little heavier. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


155 


The first authentic record we have of Templeton Reid, 
appears in the Minute Book of the Oconee Navigation Com¬ 
pany, and the first entry in that book carries the following 
heading: 

Greensboro 27th December, 1811 

“This day having been passed upon for a meeting of 
the Directors appointed by the Legislature to carry into 
effect an act incorporating a company under the style of 
the “Oconee Navigation Company” the following per¬ 
sons appointed and took the oath prescribed by said act, 
viz; Joseph Cooper, John Garner, Thomas W. Grimes, 
Thomas Reid, Zachariah Sims and Joseph Phillips.” 

Thus did the Oconee Navigation Company begin to lay its 
plans to operate boats on the Oconee River from Milledge- 
ville to Scull Shoals, with Barnett Shoals and Athens as its 
final objective. However, the following obstacles stared them 
in the face and had to be overcome; reading down the river, 
they were; Park’s mill, Reid & Garner, Hill’s Shoal, Law¬ 
rence’s Shoal, Long Shoal, Parker’s Shoal, Methodist Shoal, 
Yazoo Shoal, Flat Shoal, Wadmon’ ( ?) Shoal, Cooper’s mill, 
Low’s mill, Shoulderbone Shoal, Lamar’s Shoal, Spivy’s mill, 
Island Shoal, Fishtrap Shoal, Wright’s mill, Cedar Shoal, Up¬ 
per Hurricane shoal, Lower Hurricane shoal, Clark’s mill, 
Tom’s shoal, and Chandler’s shoal. Twenty-four barriers 
against navigation within fifty miles as the crow flies, but al¬ 
most double that distance as the river runs. 

The Georgia Legislature passed an act authorizing a sur¬ 
vey of the Oconee and appropriated money to remove each of 
these obstacles. 

The minutes of the Oconee Navigation Company indicate 
that boats were being navigated frjom Milledgeville to the 
mouth of Fishing Creek as early as July 31, 1817. 

as follows: 

“The board of directors met in Greensboro persuant to adjourn¬ 
ment, present; N. Lewis, T. Terrell, R. Rea, T. Stocks, T. S. Reid, 
and T. Grimes. On motion, Resolved, that there be a committee of 
four persons appointed to appropriate the money raised by the first 
class of the Oconee Navigation Lottery, to opening the Oconeie river, 


156 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


commencing at Fishing Creek and working from thence, upwards in 
a way that they or a majority of them, may deem the best calculated 
to advance the interest of said navigation, and that T. S. Reid, T. 
Terrell, Col. F. Carter and Templeton Reid be that committee.” 

This was the last entry in the minute book of the Oconee 
Navigation Company; but the minutes of the Greene Superior 
Court show that the Oconee Navigation Company went “on 
the rocks”. The State of Georgia took it over and tried to 
operate it, but, it too, failed to make a success and finally, 
abandoned the project. At least, one Negro was drowned while 
the State was operating boats, and the owner of the Negro 
brought suit to recover the value of the Negro. 

Up to the year 1830, the only gold money in circulation 
in the United States, was of English, Spanish, and other, for¬ 
eign coinage, except, the private coinage of A. & B. Bechtle 
of North Carolina whom the U. S. Treasury had granted a 
permit to coin gold, provided, that 27 grains of 21 carat gold 
must be put in each dollar, and this information together with 
the name of the coiner, must be stamped upon each coin, the 
writer has one of these Bechtler coins, and it is plainly stamped 
to comply with the above. 


TEMPLETON REID’S COINAGE ATTACKED BY 
THE HANCOCK ADVERTISER 

The Hancock Advertiser, Oct. 18, 1830, pg. 3, col. 1 


“TEMPLETON REID’S MINT 
Copied from the Richmond whig 

“A Mr. Templeton Reid has established a mint at Gainesville,, 
Geo., and coins gold in pieces of $10, $5, and $2.50 value. The 
Augusta Courier establishes the quantity coined at $700 per day and 
a correspondent counts his profits at 7 per cent, equal to $15,000 per 
annum. Mr. Reid denies them to be so much. We did not know be¬ 
fore that individuals possessed the right of coining money. 

“So far as individuals having “the right of coining money” it is 
not even possessed by the States. They parted with the right to the 
Congress of the United States, on the adoption of the Federal Consti¬ 
tution, and in that body it still resides, by the 8th Section of the 1st 
Article of that instrument. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


157 


“Thr coinage of money is an essential attribute to soverignty. 
Since the State is surety, ‘says Vettel, on the law of nations/ for the 
goodness of money and 'its currency, the public authority alone has 
the right of coining it.’ Such has been the uniform law of the land, 
both in this country and in England; and any attempt to coin the 
money of the realm, however pure the metal, or however ample its 
weight, independence of public authority and sanction, brings down 
upon the individual the penalties of treason.—So unquestionable are 
these facts, that we are let to believe there is some mistake in the 
statements, and that no person would have the hardihood to encounter 
the perils of the law in such an undertaking.” 

There was no mistake about Templeton Reid’s coinage 
of gold. Many of his gold coins are still in existence and, if 
you are so fortunate as to possess one of his $10 gold pieces, 
it is worth $6,000.00. 

So far as the writer knows, Mr. Reid was never prosecut¬ 
ed for treason; and everything indicates that he coined gold 
with the full knowledge of “Uncle Sam”, but that he held a 
duly authorized permit from the Congress of the United States. 

The 7 per cent profit that Mr. Reid is said to have made 
on his coinage indicates that he coined the gold that his custom¬ 
ers brought him just as his father converted grain into meal 
and flour, and that his toll was 7 per cent. There is nothing 
to show that Mr. Reid ever mined gold; but there is much to 
prove that the people around Dahlonega devoted their time to 
searching for gold, therefore, it is reasonable to presume that 
they carried it to Templeton Reid’s mint to be coined into 
money. Much of the gold that was found was imbedded in rock, 
and had to be assayed and purified and weighed, therefore, the 
owner of the gold had to pay for this expense in addition to 
the coinage. 

According to the Putnam County Reid family, Templeton 
Reid was a silversmith, and made articles of jewelry from both 
gold and silver. Some of his handiwork is said to be still in pos¬ 
session of some of the Reid family. 

In the year 1836 the Georgia Railroad had reached 
Greensboro and cotton had been crowned “King,” Greensboro 
was in the heart of the cotton producing section and planters 
were “rolling in wealth” to the envy of all “Yankeedom.” 


158 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“Yankees” poured into Georgia with the view of outsmarting 
the yokels. Clocks, Jim Crow carders and other yankee gew¬ 
gaws were scarce and the “fields were ripe unto the harvest. 
Josiah Davis heard of this “promised land” and, like the 
forty-niners during the gold rush to California, he headed for 
Greensboro, Georgia. 

The Greene County records show where Josiah Davis 
and Isaac R. Hall formed a partnership and engaged in 
the mercantile business in Greensboro, Georgia on May 
30, 1844, and that Josiah Davis had established the busi¬ 
ness some years prior to that date. The partnership agree¬ 
ment is recorded in Greene County Deed Book “O-O” 
p. 138 and was for a period of four years from date. This 
partnership was renewed May 30, 1848. The capital em¬ 
ployed was $5,000.00. Isaac R. Hall owned the building 
in which they did business. 

THE FIRST RECORD OF DAVIS & BARBER 

Greene County Deed Book “N-N”, p. 218 shows where 
Davis & Barber loaned Jesse M. Thornton $275.00 and, as 
security for said loan they took a bill of sale to a “yellow man” 
named Edward about 22 years of age. This transaction was 
recorded on October 29, 1841, and shows that the firm of 
Davis & Barber were already in business some years before 
Josiah Davis entered into partnership with Isaac R. Hall. 

It is reasonable to suppose that Orville Barber, a nephew 
of Mrs. Josiah Davis, came to Georgia with his aunt and uncle 
and that they soon thereafter began assembling clocks and ped¬ 
dling them over this part of Georgia, and that many of these 
clocks were sold through “Uncle Josiah’s,” mercantile establish¬ 
ment. 

Other records show where Davis & Barber loaned money to 
other people and took bills of sale to Negroes to secure the 
loans. In other words, it proves that, although Davis and Bar¬ 
ber were Connecticutt “Yankees” they had no scruples against 
owning slaves. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


159 


When this writer came to Greensboro in September 1889, 
there were many people still living who knew Josiah Davis 
personally, and the two-room house in which Davis and Bar¬ 
ber assembled their clocks was still standing-and so was Ed¬ 
ward, the “yellow man’’ that Davis and Barber acquired under 
a bill of sale, and from these I obtained some first-hand in¬ 
formation about the old clock maker, Josiah Davis. 

Leila Harper-Wood, an old colored woman whose mas¬ 
ter lived across the street from Josiah Davis’ home and shop, 
told me many things concerning the Davis family. According to 
her story, Orville Barbar had charge of the sales end of the 
business while his uncle looked after the shop, and that the 
slaves owned by Davis and Barber did the actual work of as¬ 
sembling the clocks-the works were shipped here from Bridge¬ 
port, Conn. The wagons were loaded with clocks, Jim Crow 
carders, tin ware and many Yankee gewgaws, and that these 
wagons were sent out all over Georgia, Alabama and other 
states. Jim Crow carders were similar to carders used by our 
ancestors to card cotton and wool to be made into yarn for 
knitting stockings, etc. etc. However, their principal use, at that 
time, was for Negroes to comb their hair. 

There is no record of Mr. Josiah Davis’ activities after 
the War Between the States; the presumption is that he lived 
a retired life up to the time he died in 1869 he was often refer¬ 
red to as “Old man Clock Davis.” 

When I came to Greensboro in September 1889, John 
J. (“Jake”) Davis was an old man, his wife had been dead 
many years, his children were grown and married, and John 
J. Davis was a printer for The Greensboro Herald-Journal; 
he lived on a small farm that he owned just beyond the 
Greensboro City limit. Adeline Clark, a bright mulatto Negro 
woman lived with Mr. Davis and kept house for him. Adeline 
was the Negro woman mentioned in the deed from Peter Clark 
to Josiah Davis and was said to have been about 16 years of age 
in 1856 that would indicate that she was in her early 50’s when 
I first knew her. Adeline had several bright mulatto childred. 
John (“Jake”) Davis was the oldest son of Josiah Davis and, 


160 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


while she, Adeline was no longer a slave when Josiah Davis died 
in 1869, Adeline stuck to the Davis family. 

Many letters have come to me from many people, in many 
states, asking information about the old Davis and Barber 
clocks that were made in Greensboro, Georgia; many of these 
clocks are still in use and keeping correct time. I think the 
working on the label-“Made in Greensboro, Ga.,”-is incorrect, 
I believe the works and cases were made in Connecticutt and 
sent to Greensboro where they were assembled. 

As to the exact date that the firm of Davis and Barber 
began assembling and selling clocks no record can be found; 
but I am reasonablv sure that it could not have been earlier 
than the late 1830’s. nor later than 1851. As to whether 
Josiah Davis continued in the clock business after he bought 
Orville Barber’s interest-in 1841-no one seems to know. How¬ 
ever, it is a safe bet that no clock, bearing the name of Davis 
and Barber, is not less than one hundred (100) years old. 

EARLY NEWSPAPERS 

In the Savannah Evening Ledger, Vol. V, No. 21 we find 
the following news item: Married at Greensboro, Ga., Tues¬ 
day, July 28, 1807, Mr. Samuel Minor, editor of the 

Greensboro Observator, to Miss Ann Rogers of Hancock 
County. So we knew that this was the first paper published 
here. Later Samuel Minor went to Athens and published the 
“Athens Express.” Also in this issue of the Savannah Evening 
Ledger was an article stating that Greensboro citizens 
headed by Jonas Fauche held a meeting at which they demand¬ 
ed that the President of the United States take action resent¬ 
ing the action that the British Squadron had attacked a U. S. 
Frigate. 

Wyley Gresham, a student at the University of Ga. made 
the principal speech. Others who took part in this meeting were, 
Matthew Wells, Col. George Foster, Maj. Joseph Houghton, 
Maj. Ezekiel Brown, Dr. Wm. Strain, Ezekiel Park and Red- 
mon Thornton. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


161 


The Greensboro “Herald” with H. M. Brown, Edit¬ 
or and proprietor had as his slogan, “Vincit Amor Patri,” 
1869. 

Georgia Home Journal, was a weekly edited by Rev. Jos¬ 
hua Knowles, 1873-1886. It united with the Greensboro 
Herald to form the “Herald-Journal”. Duke University has a 
copy of Jan. 22, 1877, 1883-84 issues. 

The Herald-Journal weekly, of 1887 may be found in the 
Greene County’s Clerk’s Office and Duke University. 

There seems to have been a Union Point newspaper edited 
by Bismuth Miller, but copies could not be found. 

The Woodville news items for several years were signed 
by King Hans 11. The 1891, Jan. 9 copies were, found and it 
is believed that King Hans 11 was the pen name of Henry 
Grady. 

The Herald-Journal of Feb. 3, 1888 is signed R.J.D. of 
Greshamville under the caption, “Auld Lang Syne”. In this 
article he wrote of, “The Last of The Knee Buckles”, and 
the first gig. 

John Seals published the “Temperance Crusader”, in Pen- 
field in the late 1830’s until 1850. Seals moved to Atlanta and 
named his paper, “The Ga. Literary and Temperance Crusad¬ 
er”. L. V. French was the literary editor. The Civil War stop¬ 
ped the paper and Seals came back to Greensboro and taught 
in the Female College until authorities made the college build¬ 
ings into a hospital for wounded soldiers in Jan. 1865. 

The Christian Index was later published in Penfield. In 
January, 1906 James Cranston Williams purchased the Greens¬ 
boro Herald-Journal which is published and edited for thirty 
years, now the paper is published by his son, Carey Williams. 
(See Personages) 

GREENSBORO’S HOTELS AND TAVERNS 

Soon after the year 1800, Thomas W. Grimes, a prosper¬ 
ous business man, merchant and farmer, built and operated a 


162 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


hotel on the site now occupied by the Greensboro Auditorium. 
It ran for years under the name of the Grimes Hotel. In this 
hostelry General Andrew Jackson was entertained in the year 
1820. Louden Willis succeeded Mr. Grimes as proprietor and, 
for many years it went by the name of the Willis Hotel. John 
H. Snellings succeeded Mr. Willis and it became known as the 
Snellings Hotel and went by that name until after the close of 
the War Between the States. Wiley G. Johnson succeeded Mr. 
Snellings and operated it for some years under the name of the 
Johnson Hotel; Mr. and Mrs. John Corry succeeded Mr. John¬ 
son, and the name was changed to the Corry Hotel. After the 
Corries’ came Mrs. Jack Ellis who operated it successfully for 
a number of years. During Mrs. Ellis’ tenure, Messers E. A. 
Copelan, J. Conklin Brown, and Col. Henry T. Lewis bought 
the property and built the Richland Hotel. After some years, 
Mrs. Ellis gave up the hotel and moved to Monroe, Ga. Then 
came Mrs. Arnold and her daughters, Miss Belle and Miss 
George; the Arnolds ran the hotel until after their mother’s 
death, and moved to Athens, Mrs. Hollis then took charge and 
ran it a few years and gave it up. She was succeeded by Misses 
Belle and George Arnold who operated it until it was bought 
by the City of Greensboro ; and the new City Auditoiium now 
occupies this historic site. 


THE DOHERTY HOTEL 

Soon after Greene county was created, Feb. 3, 1786, 
among the early settlers came Jonas Fauche and J. J. Doherty* 
both had been Revolutionary soldiers and had an active part 
in protecting Greene countv citizens from Indian raids; both 
were Roman Catholics, and both spent the rest of their lives 
in Greensboro. Fauche was a Swiss and Doherty was an Irish¬ 
man. When Greensboro was abandoned as the site for the 
University of Georgia, Fauche and Doherty bought many of 
the lots in Greensboro from the Trustees of the University. 
Together, they bought the entire block in which Bickers-Good- 
win Co’s store is located. Fauche built his home where Mrs. 
Davidson now lives, and the original house is now standing. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


163 


Mr. Doherty built a hotel on the lot now occupied by the 
Georgia Power Company and Mrs. Greer’s’ Cafe. This hotel 
was also built soon after the year 1800. 

Tradition says, “Aaron Burr spent the night in the Doher¬ 
ty Hotel while en route to New York for trial.” If this be 
true, the hotel was built prior to 1806. There is no record of 
this hotel being operated by others than the Doherty’s. The 
writer knew Mrs. Doherty fifty-four years ago, she was not 
less than eighty years of age, at that time. Her son, Charles, 
was an old man when I first knew him. Whiskey and cards 
brought about his downfall and he died a pauper and was buried 
at public expense. 

The old hotel was bought by Messers H. Geissler and 
Judge Henry T. Lewis; they bought it as an investment and 
never utilized it. Later, it was condemned by the City Council 
as a public nuisance and fire-trap. The writer bought the 
building and tore it down. Many of the timbers were heart- 
pine and were used to build and repair other buildings. The 
old Doherty Hotel property is now owned by Cranston and 
Carey Williams who own and publish The Greensboro Her¬ 
ald-Journal. 


STRAIN-STATHAM HOTEL 

Prior to 1836 William L. Strain and Memory W. Strat- 
ham owned and operated a Tavern located where Chandler 
Drug Co., and I Block’s Department stores now are. In 1829 
Memory W. Statham and James Godkin bought a tract of 
land in Greensboro, and they operated a “Tannery.” The branch 
that rises near the Greensboro Ice Plant and flows westward 
to Richland Creek, has long been known as “Tan Yard branch”. 
On Nov. 6, 1836, Memory W. Statham bought from William 
L. Strain, a lot located on the Greensboro “Commons” and 
located at the corner of Broad and Main Streets, “said property 
lately occupied by Strain & Statham as a Tavern and Mansion 
House.” (The Commons embraced the area bounded on the 
east by East St., on west by West St.; and south by South St.; 
and the north by North Street. This included the entire business 
section of Greensboro). 


164 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Memory W. Statham operated the Statham Hotel up to 
the time of his death, which occurred in April 1856. His will 
mentions the following children; Mary Johnson, Ophelia Jane, 
Henrietta, Anna, and “my youngest daughter, Lillian Melissa”. 
He mentions only one son of whom, he says “It is my will that 
my ungrateful son, Francis Cummins, shall in no way or man¬ 
ner participate in my estate; and that he is not to remain under 
my roof more than three days at a time; and I hereby request 
the Judge of Ordinary to see that this request is carried out to 
the letter and spirit. In the event of failure of this request the 
letters of testamentary are to be canceled. 

Later, a codicil was added and this clause was revoked, 
however, it left the matter “to the sound discretion of his wife.” 

Mrs. Melissa Statham and her daughters operated the 
hotel until sometime after the War Between the States. Just 
after the close of the war the Federal Government placed a 
small “Army of Occupation” in Greensboro and, a “Quisling” 
was placed here to humiliate the conquered citizenry. So ob¬ 
noxious was this man, that he was bitterly hated; but like con¬ 
quered France, Holland and Norway resented such vermin, some 
one was bold enough to end his career by a rifle shot from 
one of the windows of the Statham Hotel. A Negro, now living 
in Greensboro, by the name of Catlin, claims to have seen him 
fall to the street with a bullet through his body. No one ever 
knew, or tried to find out who fired the shot that killed the 
obnoxious officer. 

Mrs. Statham owned a Negro by the name of Ned; Ned 
was house-boy, porter, waiter, and general utility man. In those 
days all hotels sent porters to meet the trains and solicit pat¬ 
ronage. Those who have never seen hotel porters vie with 
each other in crying out the merits of the hotels they repre¬ 
sented have missed something. “Drummers” encouraged this 
rivalry and precipitated many fist-fights among porters. The 
Statham Hotel boasted of having more pretty girls than most 
hotels; Ned was a smart rascal and knew how to play up the 
attractions of his hotel and, “they say” he got the business. 
One of the girls married Wylie G. Johnson and opened a hotel 
of her own. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


165 


According to the nom-de-plume Ned applied to the old 
lady and two of her daughters, they must have been plucky; he 
referred to them as “Old Pluck, Pluckee, and Plucibus.” Ned 
was still alive when the writer came to Greensboro, and it was 
through him that much of this story was gathered. One of 
old “Pluck’s” daughters, a widow, came back to Greensboro 
and rounded out her days in the boardinghouse of Mrs. Eudora 
Hall, her name, that does not matter, but I think she was 
“Pluckee.” 

The death of Mrs. Statham and the marriage of her 
daughters, brought about the closing of this ancient hostelry. 
The property changed hands, a number of times. Dr. John E. 
Walker operated a drug store in the corner now occupied by 
the Chandler Drug Company for some years in the eighteen- 
eighties. Hon. E. A. Copeland bought the Statham Hotel pro¬ 
perty and, in 1889, he tore it down and built his bank which 
went by the name of E. A. Copelan, banker. The Copelan estate 
still owns this property. 

In 1809 Benjamin Weaver advertised in the Georgia Ex¬ 
press at Athens, Ga. that he had bought the “Eagle Tavern” 
in Greensboro formerly run by Thomas Dawson. He adver¬ 
tised that his tables were supplied by the best provisions 
the county had and that his cellars were abundantly provided 
with liquors of the first quality. His stables were extensive and 
airy and the horses attended by an experienced hostler. 

In 1885 the Greensboro Herald said that the old hotel 
opposite the Georgia railroad depot had been torn down. For 
many years it had been the eating place for the people on trains 
and in its day it was a popular place. 

The Herald-Journal of July 19, 1889 stated that the old 
Statham Hotel on Main Street was being removed and would 
be replaced with an elegant brick building, the E. A. Copeland 
Bank. The bank was opened in Sept. 1889. Candler’s Drug 
Store was where the bank was formerly. One of the bank’s 
first depositors was Dr. T. B. Rice. 

In May 17, 1889 it was advertised that “The Last Days 
of Pompei” would be played in Greensboro on May 28, 
1889. Admission 50 cents. 


166 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


DOCTORS 

The old country doctor was truly a circulating pharmacy. 
He mixed his own medicines, rolled the pills, and carried in 
his old leather saddlebags such things as, blue mass, mustard, 
lobelia, quinine, morphine, laudanum, boneset, and gentian for 
making tinctures and many other concoctions. 

In his office would be the amputation kit of small, medium 
and large saws for the bones, the scaples and probers. On the 
shelves would be seen jars of syrup for the hives, peppermint, 
powdered rhubarb, syrup of squill, the small scales, the tile 
and spatula, the mortar and pestle for rolling pills. The people 
took so many pills it is a wonder the joints weren’t ball bearing. 
There were great jars of castor oil. 

Sterilization by boiling was unheard of, and all of these 
instruments had wooden handles so we conclude that the in¬ 
struments were probally made ready by wiping with a carbolic 
solution. The sufferer of colds and pneumonia suffered the ir¬ 
ritating poultices on the chest often followed by huge, red 
blisters. 

Opium was resorted to freely and resulted in many ad¬ 
dicts. Far back in the country where a doctor was not available 
there were predatory fakers who called themselves doctors 
but their only training consisted of reading Dr. Gunn’s and 
Thompson’s book, “Home Treatments of Diseases.” 

The country doctor of the early days rode long lonesome 
trails on horseback in all kinds of weather. He delivered babies 
by candlelight, he often sat until dawn and watched a life ebb 
away after he had done all that he knew to save it . . He was 
a friend and a counselor and very prominent figure in the ante¬ 
bellum times, and of his part in the life of the country much has 
been written. 

Dr. Rice writes that he did not find a list of doctors serv¬ 
ing in the Confederate Army from Greene County but some 
records name these men serving in that capacity. Drs. W. H. 
Credelle, J. M. Griffin, I. D. Moore, 'W. M. Harris. Dr Cre- 
delle was stationed at Andersonville prison and came near meet¬ 
ing the same fate as did Wirtz. Dr. Credelle escaped and went 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


167 


to France until the storm blew over, coming back and practicing 
here until the late 90’s and Dr. Rice knew him personally. 

Greene County has had some very able country doctors. 
They were: Dr. John E. Walker, Dr. Wm. L. Bethea, Dr. 
W. E. Adams, Dr. I. D. Moore, Dr. W. H. Credelle, Dr. J. C. 
Asbury, Dr. J. H. Gheesling, Dr. B. F. Daniel, Dr. J. R. Ro¬ 
bins, Dr. Wiley Hailes, Dr. John L. Durham and Dr. Arthur 
Jaynes. Some later doctors that Rice knew personally 
were: Dr. E. G. Adams, Dr. Goodwin Gheesling, Dr. J. A. 
Stapper, Dr. C. C. King, Dr. C. O. Copeland, Dr. H. D. 
Carson, Dr. Deaver, Dr. Nash, Dr. A. H. Randall, Dr. W. 
A. Moore, Dr. A. A. Jernigan, Dr. W. L. M. Harris, Dr. 
T. W. Landrum, Dr. John G. Godkin, Dr. Thomas P. Janes, 
Dr. L. M. Kimbrough, Dr. Geo. W. Durham, and one Negro 
doctor, Dr. C. M. Baber. 

Dr. J. M. Griffin, Dr. R. J. Youngblood and Dr. Colum¬ 
bus Park were old, but still practicing medicine in 1889 in 
Greene County. 

Dr. Rice says that old Dr. William Coffee Daniel was 
thought to have been born in Greene County in 1792. He was 
known in Savannah as, “Old Doctor Capsicum” His mother 
was the daughter of General Coffee who married Mary Don¬ 
aldson and her sister Rachael married President Andrew Jack- 
son. Thomas Stocks married Cynthia Coffee, the first time, 
therefore Mrs. Stocks was an aunt of Dr. Wm. Coffee Daniel 
(Dr. Capsicum). 

Major Jonas Fauche who was in charge of military oper¬ 
ations in Greene County in the 1790’s and Ga’s second Adj. 
General married Polly Daniel a widow with one son. Her first 
husband was a close relative of Dr. Daniel and Jonas Fauche 
made Dr. Daniel one of the executors of his will. 

Dr. Daniel practiced medicine in Savannah where malaria 
was prevalent in summer so he sent his family in the carriage 
with a wagon of provisions to Mrs. Stocks home to stay until 
frost came. The home was called, “Oak Hill” and there was 
also a town house in Greensboro. 


168 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Why was Dr. Daniel called, “Dr. Capsicum”? The bulle¬ 
tin of the Ga. Medical Society, Vol. 1 No. 5., page 62 gives this 
explanation: Dr. William Coffee Daniel (1792-1868) was gra¬ 
duated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 
1815 and later divided his time between his many plantations 
and the practice of medicine as well as taking part in politics. 
In 1826 he published a book called, “Autumnal Fevers of 
Savannah”, this book said that the debilitated condition of 
fever patients required active stimulation rather than bleeding 
and purging. He advised the use of tea and red pepper. So 
earnest was Dr. Daniel’s advise of this rather severe remedy 
that he was given the name of “Old Doctor Capsicum.” It is 
thought that quinine had been isolated from the chinchona bark 
but it was still protected by copyright and exceedingly high 
in price. There were no capsules and it was stirred into coffee 
to drink, that is if you had the coffee and could get the quinine. 

PRACTICING MEDICINE IN THE LONG AGO 

Ralph Smith, that peerless columnist of The Atlanta Jour¬ 
nal, is always digging something interesting out of his “Pan- 
dor’s Box,” and his latest antique is Dr. Gunn’s “New Family 
Physician, or, Home Book of Health.” The mere fact that 
this publication reached its one hundreth edition in 1870, gives 
some idea of how universal home diagnosis and treatment was 
practiced; and it is not to be wondered at how high the death 
rate ran under the self-medication plan of our forefathers. How¬ 
ever, Dr. Gunn’s book was a boon to many families who lived 
in remote sections that were far removed from any doctor. 
His general advice, list of things to eat and not to eat were 
sound, for his day; and “kitchen-physic” played an important 
part in his “Home Treatment” of disease. Medicinal herbs 
cut quite a figure in his “practice” and he laid considerable 
stress on the poisonous ones, and his dosage was not always 
correct. His praise of Opium and its derivaties were termed 
as “Divine Medicine’ and caused it’s use to be resorted to all 
too freely; and resulted in many addicts. Fortunately, heroin 
and cocaine had not been discovered, otherwise he would have 
recommended them also, and we would have had a generation 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


169 


of crimnals several generations earlier than this curse gripped 
our nation. My more than a third of a century behind the pres¬ 
cription counter prior to the Harrison Anti-narcotic Act, gave 
me an insight into the private habits of many people; and the 
universality of self-medication. Then too, I got a slant on that 
class of predatory fakirs who lived a-way back in the “sticks” 
and called themselves “Doctor”, but their medical training 
consisted of reading Drs. Gunn, Thompson and other“ Home 
Treatments” of disease. Fortunately for the public, edu¬ 
cation, state, and national Drug Acts and daily newspap¬ 
ers have about destroyed the “usefulness” of this class 
of practitioners, and the average life of the human race has 
been materially lengthened, and the drug addicts are confined 
to the crimnal class that infest our crime centers. To say that 
Dr. Gunn was a fake would be an untruth. He and others of 
his day felt that they were real benefactors of those who were 
not within easy reach of a physician by imparting their know¬ 
ledge of medicine in book-form, and thereby enable others to 
treat many forms of illness with some degree of intelligence. 
Ignorance, African voodooism and “Indian-doctor-medicine” 
was a fetish in many sections, and they all still exist in some 
places. Dr. Gunn read widely and quoted from many distinguish¬ 
ed authors. He wrote interestingly on all the attributes and vices 
of mankind; and his knowledge of the practice of medicine was 
remarkable, for his day. 

To me, a far more interesting work on home practice of 
medicine is “The Medical Companion”, by Dr. James Ewell, 
Physician in Washington, formerly of Savannah, Georgia. The 
first edition was published in 1807; and one of the first, if not 
the very first book published, bears the following inscription: 


“To his Excellency 
THOMAS JEFFERSON, 

PRESIDENT 

of 

THE UNITED STATES.” 

I beg leave to present this book to Mr. Jefferson, not because he 
is President of 1807, but because he was the patriot of 1776; and still 
more, because, through the whole: of a long and glorious life, he has 
been the philosopher and friend of his country; with all the ingenuity 


170 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


of the former, exposing the misrepresentations of illiberal foreigners; 
and with all the ardour of the latter, fanning the fire of American 
science, and watering the roots of that sacred olive which sheds her 
peaceful blessings over our land. To whom then, with equal pro¬ 
priety, could I dedicate a book, designed at least to promote health 
and longevity? And to whom am I bound by the tenderiest ties of 
affection and gratitude, as to Mr. Jefferson? The early classmate and 
constant friend of my deceased father, and instrumentally the author 
of my acquaintance with the first characters of the state of Georgia; 
among whom, with peculiar pleasure, I would mention the honour¬ 
able names of Milledge, Troup, Bullock, and Flournoy. 

That you may long direct the councils of a united and wise 
people, steadily persuing health, peace, and competence, the main 
pillars of individual and national happiness, is the fervent prayer, of 
your Excellency’s. 

Much obliged, and 

Very grateful servant, 

JAMES EWELL.” 

Dr. Ewell’s book not only received the hearty commenda¬ 
tion of President Thomas Jefferson, but such emminent medi¬ 
cal authorities as W. Shippen, M. D., Professor of Anatomy, 
and B. S. Barton, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica, Natur¬ 
al History and Botany of the Philadelphia Medical College, and 
many other prominent physicians and surgeons throughout the 
nation. As to Dr. Ewell’s experience and ability, the publishers 
wrote as follows: 

“Also, having been himself a melancholy spectator of the 
capture of Washington by the British, he has annexed a concise 
and impartial history of that awful tragedy, with sundry im¬ 
portant hints relative to those bilious and camp fevers, and 
dysenteries, which followed that great national calamity.” 

(This refered to the third edition which was published in 

1816 .) 

This muchly thumbed “Medical Companion” of Dr. 
Ewell’s bears the name of Samuel Davis of Greene County, Ga. 
Mr. Davis was the grandfather of the writer’s wife, also 
Messers Charles and Oscar Davis of Atlanta. Dr. Ewell writes 
of his experience as a physician in Augusta and Savannah 
Georgia. His reference to his Hospital for Sailors, in Savan¬ 
nah, and his efforts to interest the people of Savannah in 
building a Hospital, leads me to believe that he operated the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


171 


first Hospital that Georgia ever had, and that he was instru¬ 
mental in making the city of Savannah hospital-minded for the 
care of her sick. Of this first Hospital of his in Savannah, he 
says: “In the year 1805, when our Summer and Autumnal fever 
raged with uncommon violence and mortality in Savannah, 
having considerable practice among the shipping, I was in¬ 
duced, chiefly from motives of humanity, to open a private 
hospital for Seamen. And though I had usually from twenty 
to thirty patients during the sickly season, I lost but one of 
all who had been taken into the hospital at an early stage of 
the disease. The very happy result of the little Hospital system 
above stated, cannot but excite the most earnest wish for a 
similar establishment in Savannah, but on a much larger scale. 
Such an institution could not fail to prove a great blessing to 
the state, but more so to Savannah, where such numbers of 
useful citizens, especially seamen, are annually swept off.” 

Eleven years later, in 1816, he writes: “It affords me plea¬ 
sure to state, that since the appearance of this friendly hint, 
in the first edition of this work, in 1807, the humane citizens 
of Savannah, have actually established a Hospital as above, 
and have found it abundantly productive of the good effects 
predicted. Fortunate would it be, if similar institutions were 
erected in all our seaports. In addition to the softer whispers 
of humanity, gratitude, now lifts her louder voice to the nation, 
and surely our gallant sailors, principally the objects of such 
hospitals, have given glorious proofs in the late awful contest, 
that they deserve every mark of attention that a great nation 
in the plentitude of munificence can bestow.” 

Thus it can be truly said that Dr. James Ewell was the 
“father” of Hospitals in Georgia; and perhaps, in many other 
parts of the United States. Had he published his “Medical 
Companion” in the twentieth century, he would have been 
classed by the medical profession, as an unethical Moun-te- 
bank, and unworthy of recognition. 

Some of Dr. Ewell’s “Receipts” would be meaningless to 
us now, For example: Receipt No. 36 reads: Decoction of 
Bark, Take of Bark, one ounce, Boiling water, one pint. Sim¬ 
mer them together for ten minutes and strain off the liquor.” 


172 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


What Bark? would be a natural question for the uninitiat¬ 
ed to ask; but any “old-timer” like Dr. Crawford W. Long 
of Athens, Joseph Jacobs, Beau Berry, Theodore Schumann, 
J. S. Pemberton, Asa G. Candler Sr., Percy Magnus, Jim and 
Harry Sharp, Hutchison Bros., Louis Bradfield, Pinson & 
Dozier, Lamar, Rankin & Lamar, John B. Daniel, Mood and 
Arch Avery of Atlanta, Dr. George S. Vardeman of Sparta, 
Ga. who holds Georgia Pharmacy liscense No. 1, and including 
present company, any one of them would have known that 
black-oak bark was intended; and that the old doctor would 
have prescribed Peruvian bark had it not been so expensive. 
And, just here, some more medical and pharmaceutical history 
may enlighten many. Peruvian or Cinchona trees were first 
found in Bolivia and Peru, and their medical properties were 
known to the natives,’ though little used long before the Ameri¬ 
can Revolution. The name Cinchona was given after it had 
been introducted into Europe, and had effected a notable cure 
of royalty on the person of the Countess de Cinchon. 

As early as 1737, Europeans tried to smuggle plants and 
seeds of the cinchona into that country, but their efforts met 
with failure. The two principal varieties are known as Rubra 
and Flava-Red and Yellow Cinchons; but the red seems to 
have been prized more highly by physicians, and their prescrip¬ 
tions often called for “Red Bark”. Just why it was valuable 
in the treatment of malaria and fever is all forms, they did 
not know; but it almost invariably brought results. Finally, a 
French chemist discovered that Quina-Quinine was the active 
principle of medicinal value, and he proceeded to patent the 
name and process. For the moment, I cannot place my hand on 
the history of this valuable chemical, but certainly, it was early 
in the nineteenth century. Powers & Weightman of Philadelphia, 
held letters of patent in the United States; and it was not until 
in the early eighteen-eighties that heir patent expired. Between 
the years 1880 and 1884-5, quinine sold from 8 to 9 dollars per 
ounce. About that time, Keesby & Mattison of New York, 
startled the drug world by placing an advertisement in the New 
York papers, for men to work in a Quinine Factory. Powers & 
Weightman countered with law suits and a great reduction in 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


173 


price. The quinine war was on ... . The price kept dropping 
and finally reached $1.00 per ounce. Both retail and wholesale 
druggists thought the time had come to “make-a-killing” with 
the results that many came near “going broke” when the price 
reached half that figure, or around 50 cents per ounce. 

Hog Killing — 1845 

On a cold and frosty morning when the wind whistled out 
of the north the master would decide it was time to kill the 
hogs. Days before preparations had been made, the pots had 
been filled with water, the wood had been piled high and 
planks laid out to stretch the hogs on after they were killed 
and scalded so that the hair could be scraped off. The hogs were 
not fed the night before and the bell rang out early for every¬ 
one to get up and get busy. 

One slave, strong and well trained would stick the hogs 
in just the right place to bleed them well, as the boy would 
ride them out of the fattening pen. One slave was trained to 
cut out the hams, shoulders, middlings and sausage meat. The 
planter had to provide enough meat for his own use and to 
feed his slaves so he often killed from 40 to 50 hogs and some¬ 
times had two or three “killings”. 

That was a busy day on the farm. In order to feed the 
workers a huge pot of liver hash was made and sweet potatoes 
were roasted in the ashes nearby and cornbread was brought 
from the kitchen. 

The next day the sausage was seasoned with sage, red 
pepper and salt, and ground and stuffed. The sausages were 
made into links and hung on long poles in the smokehouse 
where they were smoked with hickory wood. The fat was 
cooked and strained into shining cans and the cracklings were 
stored for cracklin’ bread. The little pickaninnies blew up the 
bladders and put corn in them, tied them and let them dry and 
had as much fun as children do now, with balloons. 

Chitterlings were quite a delicacy and after cleaning care¬ 
fully, soaking in salty water for several days the small pieces 


174 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


were battered and crisply fried, steaming hot. “Old mammy” 
excelled at cooking them and she called them “oysters”. 

Corn Shuckings 

There were corn shuckings which were light-hearted fro¬ 
lics that made work seem play The people without slaves made 
a party out of this, where the young folks all took part. The 
one finding an ear of corn with blue grains got a drink of hard 
cider but if he found a red ear he got to kiss a pretty girl. As 
soon as the corn was finished a good supper was served and 
then the fiddlers would tune up for a dance. This was enjoy¬ 
ed until late hours and away the people would go, some on 
horseback, some in carriages and some in wagons. 

Neighbors 

Back in the old days when a neighbor was ill, the others 
pitched in and did his work for him. If his barn or home burn¬ 
ed they helped him to rebuild. When crops were bad one 
neighbor would loan a less fortunate one money to go on. A 
man’s word was usually his bond and he made it good. Once 
in a great while a rascal would take advantage and he was 
usually a newcomer. 

Vincent Sanford and John Bethune endorsed large notes 
for one unscrupulous fellow who cashed them and left the 
county. These two men had to sell their lands to pay these 
notes. Bethune broke and disheartened moved to Alabama. 
Sanford became Clerk of the court. Vincent Sanford’s father 
was called “Honest” Jeremiah Sanford, while his son Shelton 
P. became a teacher at Mercer at Penfield and wrote an 
arithmetic and algebra textbook which was used for many 
years in the public schools of Georgia. 

Greene County was known for its neighborliness. In 1840 
Penfield sent $300.00 to the starving Irish. The Baptists in 
Greensboro sent two missionaries to Africa. Rev. Thomas 
J. Bowen went to Nigeria in 1849. He reduced the Youraba 
tribe language to writing which was a great achievement. He 
came back on leave in 1853 and married Lourane H. Davis 
of Greensboro. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


175 


The churches and the Masonic Order were a powerful 
force in the county. The Union Meeting house built in 1830 
where the Presbyterians and Baptists worshipped was a great 
power for good. Bishop Asbury in 1800 organized a Metho¬ 
dist church. The lodge or the church often dismissed a man 
for drinking too much or not paying his debts. The court re¬ 
cords of that period show that men were fined for gambling, 
card playing, riding others on rails, and blacking the faces of 
others they wanted to make appear ridiculous, but on the whole 
pioneers were friendly and good neighbors. 

Slaves 

Many planters had grown cotton year after year with the 
slaves clearing up virgin land until as these were used up pro¬ 
duction began to fall off because of the erosion and thinning 
of the land caused by constant row-cropping. About 1840 
some small farmers were moving into Alabama and Missis¬ 
sippi. 

The county fairs that they had at this time showed that 
some men realized that they must do something to restore the 
soil. 

The Southern Agricultural Society (Central) was organ¬ 
ized in 1846 at Stone Mountain and Thomas Stocks of Greene 
Co. was made President. Two years later Greene Co. organ¬ 
ized the Jefferson Agricultural Society with headquarters at 
Penfield and a county fair was planned. 

The mounting slave population was kept under control 
by the plantation owners. Most of the planters defended sla¬ 
very but some did not. Daniel Grant of Grantville, Greene 
Co. freed his slaves and appointed a guardian for them. Grant 
moved to Marthasville (Atlanta) and helped build a part of the 
railroad, and got in on the ground floor with the fast growing 
city and became very wealthy. Grant’s Park in Atlanta was a 
gift from Daniel Grant to Atlanta. 

Joel Early sent all of his slaves who wished to go, back 
to Africa. He gave them each $100.00 in silver, clothes and 
hired a boat from Norfolk, Va. to take them. 


176 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The planters had most of their money tied up in slaves 
for they had paid high prices for them. A good strong young 
slave would bring from $2,000 to $4,000. The North had pro- 
fitted by selling these slaves to the South and now the abolitio¬ 
nists were circulating anti-slavery literature and by 1840 were 
sending hired emissaries to work secretly among the slaves to 
foment discontent. 

Those unfamiliar with the South will never understand or 
comprehend the relationship that existed between the families 
and the slaves. A distinction elusive of description existed 
which was tacitly recognized by all. 

Negroes were proud to belong to a family with things of 
which they could boast, such as their social prominence, or fine 
horses. They held the poor whites who had no slaves in great 
scorn. Until emancipation Negroes had no surnames, though 
they often used their owners. 

I do not attempt to say that slavery was a good institution, 
it most definitely was not, but to say that most of the slaves 
lived comfortably and were well treated. The North was as 
much to blame for the slave traffic as the South, as many of the 
New England art galleries and colleges were endowed with 
slave-ship money. 

No history in Georgia should be written without giving 
the rightful place to the faithful “mammies” who were im¬ 
portant members of every Southern plantation. She took care 
of the children by day and rocked them to sleep at night singing 
to them queer chant-like melodies. They were excellent cooks, 
housekeepers, seamstresses and laundresses and no one could 
make beaten biscuit, fried chicken and pies like “Mammy”. 

The Negroes, before the War Between the States wor¬ 
shipped in the same buildings and had membership in the same 
churches with the whites. They were brought up in the same 
principles of good citizenship as were the sons and daughters 
of their masters and most of them tried to adhere to these 
principles throughout their long and useful lives. They also 
tried to pass on to their children the things they themselves 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


177 


had been taught. It was the slaves whose muscles turned a 
wilderness into a cultivated land. 

Most of the slaves in Greene County came in with fami¬ 
lies from Virginia and North Carolina and were a generation 
removed from the wild savages brought into the coastal area 
from Africa. They came here with these families and were 
mostly docile and well trained, some were very skillful and 
many learned to make shoes, tan leather, lay brick, and build 
homes. 

The rows of slave houses back of the great house were 
neat with clean yards and filled with children. After the days 
work they would sing their spirituals, wrestle, fiddle and play 
the banjo. They were a musical and light-hearted people and 
could join in the rhythm of any song or dance and never miss 
a beat. 

In 1834 there were 8,326 slaves in Greene Co. valued 
at $8,895,000 or $1,058 each which was 56% of the total tax 
value of the country. There were 25 free Negroes and about 
two thirds of the county were Negroes. Half of the tax payers 
owned no slaves at all, while half of them owned the slaves in 
the county. Twenty-two tax payers owned 50 or more slaves 
each. 


Peace and Plenty 1820—1850 

The Golden Age of the South was between the years of 
1820 and 1860. The boats of the world stood at anchor in the 
harbors wanting cotton, and now that the cotton gins were 
operating, the virgin and fertile fields with the slave labor 
could supply their wants and a tide of wealth came into the 
South. The plantation owners who had come into the South 
from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and older 
parts of Georgia could now have time for leisure. Their families 
had more comforts and educational advantages. 

They had beautiful homes of Colonial design with large 
columns in front, green window blinds, contrasting with the 
white of the exterior, ample front porches, on which they 


178 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


would sit and view the landscape. The planters and their fami¬ 
lies lived in luxury and their children were educated in the 
best schools of the country. The men wore ruffled linen shirts 
with high collars and black stocks for cravats. The women 
dressed elegantly, with small waists and ruffled large skirts. 

Their homes were substantial and well built by slave labor 
and their rolling lands as far as the eye could see were grow¬ 
ing the fleecy cotton. The rail fences cut off lush green pas¬ 
tures for the blooded horses and fine cattle. The driveway 
curved up across a vast expanse of lawn, bordered by crepe 
myrtles or cedars on either side. The flower garden on the 
side or back, smelled of verbena, phlox, cape jessamine, roses, 
lillies and star jessamine and there on the wall cascaded the 
purple wisteria and yellow banksia rose. 

The old English boxwood against the house gave off a 
peculiar though not unpleasant fragrance especially when 
drenched with the dew at night. The huge oaks made silvery 
shadows on the great house and gave it a cool restfulness that 
people eagerly sought on the long summer days. 

The children could hardly believe it, when grandfather told 
them that only thirty years ago, the Indians were raiding this 
very land, burning and pillaging the towns and that a dozen 
forts manned all night gave the settlers little time to rest from 
their labors. These settlers were now landed men and gentle¬ 
men. 

These ante-bellum homes, with some still standing are; 
Hawthorne Heights, Rice Residence, Cunningham House, 
Warner Place, Geissler Place, W. P. McWhorter Home at 
Woodville, A. A. Kimbrough Home, John A. McWhorter 
Home, Old Davis Home, Judge James B. Park, Jefferson Hall, 
Malone or Mashburn Home below Union Point. 

There were no large cities and most of the people lived 
on farms and villages. The plain people’s children went to the 
Field Schools or Poor Schools. There was the log school 
house where the pupils sat on benches made of split logs with¬ 
out backs. The windows had no glass, only a wooden shutter. 
The teacher kept school from sunrise to sunset and she taught 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


179 


the three R’s readin’, ritin’, and ‘rithmetic. For his services 
the teacher received fifty cents for each pupil per month, us¬ 
ually paid in provisions. There were a great many plain but 
excellent people who did their own work, raised on their farms 
the crops and cattle which supplied their food and the women 
made the clothing from cotton and wool, carded, spun and 
woven, on cards, spinning wheels and hand looms. Candle light 
and lightwood knots were the only illumination. Many of these 
boys who studied by firelight became distinguished leaders in 
mature life. 

Cooking was done in large open fireplaces where the large 
iron crane pivoted back and forth across the hot coals. On the 
crane, pots were hung, baking was done in iron ovens with tops 
on which the coals were placed. The oven was on legs and 
placed over red hot coals on the hearth with more hot coals 
on the lid. In the ashes sweet potatoes, ash cakes, roasting ears 
in the shucks were cooked with delicious flavor. Lightbread 
and cakes cooked in the ovens were superb. Many gourmet 
dinners for weddings and festive occasions were cooked in this 
manner and were delicious. The fuel was wood and the hic¬ 
kory coals were best for cooking. 

On the plantations of the wealthy owners there were field 
hands, household servants, kitchen servants, carriage drivers 
and the more skilled slaves made repairs and built houses. Back 
of the great house were the neat rows of whitewashed slave 
houses with well swept yards and many pickannies around. 

There was the spring house to protect and cover the milk, 
butter and water. As many as eight cows were milked morning 
and evening and the rich cream, butter and milk cooled in this 
spring house. 

There were no wire screens in those days and to protect 
food and milk from flies there were white covers called 
“tidies” with crocheted edges to cover the pitchers and dishes. 
Standing by the table was a Negro girl wielding the fly brush 
made of long peacock feathers, back and forth, back and forth, 
as the meal progressed. She listened to the sprightly conversa¬ 
tion and often the slaves knew everything that went on by her 


180 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


reporting the things she heard at the table, even though she 
often did not understand the meaning of the conversation. 

People traveled in buggies, carriages and stagecoaches be¬ 
fore the advent of the railroad. The travelers put up at tav¬ 
erns and hotels and the horses were taken out, fed and watered. 
Usually the driver blew loudly on a bugle as he approached the 
town, and on arrival found a large curious crowd to watch 
the passengers unload their luggage and to wonder about the 
outside world. 

Freight was carried long distances in wagon trains and 
neighbors often went together to Charleston, Savannah or 
Augusta. At night they camped by the road, cooked and ate, 
and then slept in the covered wagons. The drivers arose early 
and were on their way cracking the long whips over the backs 
of the horses or mules as to sound like the rapid firing of a 
pistol. Some think that the expression of “Georgia Cracker”, 
came from this old custom. 

People of this era were gregarious and often had political 
gatherings, barbecues, dances and camp meetings. George 
Pierce and Jesse Mercer often were the preachers at these 
camp meetings and hundreds of people came from several 
counties. These were held out of doors in the shade of the huge 
trees and a platform was built for the speaker and singers. 

Men like William H. Crawford, John Forsyth, and John 
Clarke talked at the political gatherings. There was always 
the social feature at any gathering and usually it was the bar¬ 
becue. Several kids, pigs or calves were broiled slowly over a 
pit of hickory coals. The meat was basted with sauces made 
from pepper, butter, tomatoes, honey, vinegar and salt, and 
cooked for about twenty-four hours. The stew bubbled in the 
pot where the fire burned to make the coals and when the 
baskets were opened with the cakes, pickles, homemade light- 
bread and custards, the tables really groaned under the luscious 
dinner. 

Present in their gorgeous uniforms would be officers of 
the State Militia such as: John Floyd, David Meriwether, 
Gov. Mitchell and John Clarke. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


181 


As the plantations produced most of their food, and cot¬ 
ton was a surplus crop, they had plenty to eat, plenty to wear 
and the planters had elegant homes and were attended by 
well trained servants. The family rode to town and to church 
in a carriage drawn by fine horses. House parties were fre¬ 
quent and hospitality was lavish. A traveler was never refused 
a night’s lodging and if he was a man of respectability and 
character he was a welcome guest. (Ga. History by Cooper 
Vol. 11 p. 240- 

From, “Georgia and States Rights,” by Phillip we find 
“The line of separation between the classes was vague and vary¬ 
ing. The great bulk of slave holders were slave holders in a 
small way. It was their ambition to own more slaves and more 
land and the hope of the poor whites to own slaves and land. 
Professional men and merchants as a part of the population 
tended to prevent exclusive ranking of citizens by their hold¬ 
ing of land and slaves.” 

“The contrast between extremes and poverty in the South 
has been exaggerated. The land lottery system had given each 
man a homestead, outright, and most owned their farms and 
cattle and had the necessities of life. He had fruits and melons 
of his own growing, also game which he killed, and liquors of 
his own distilling”. “The social system was by no means rigid 
in the cotton belt. Such wealth as the planters had gained was 
of too recent acquisition to permit their being supercilious about 
manual labor. They often encouraged the negroes by leading 
the row in plowing or hoeing and the planter respected his 
hard working foreman.” 

In 1837 the railroad came into Greene County, a univer¬ 
sity was founded and three cotton factories were built. The 
newest census showed forty-three industries in the county and 
they were striding ahead into the period of peace and plenty. 
People enjoyed a great measure of culture and good living. 

Clouds Gather — 1860 

After 1853 the rift between the North and South began 
to widen. Really from 1832 on to 1861 was a long period of a 


182 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


cold war. The North wished to buy cheap and sell high, they 
became envious of the wealth and prestige of the South and 
the New England clique in press and pulpit were not content 
to mind their own business but must attempt to reform their 
neighbors, so they started a campaign of villification and mis¬ 
representation against the South which finally exploded into a 
clash of arms, unleashing a horror of four years of bloodshed 
and destruction. The cost of a small part of this would have 
paid for the value of the slaves many times to say nothing of 
the wanton destruction and the pensions incurred for 100 years. 

According to the laws of the United States, the slaves 
were property as much as real estate. Remember that the 
Southerners neither stole or captured these slaves, bear in 
mind that they bought them from the Northern slave importers 
and paid large sums of money for them. 

Of course slavery was an ugly blot on American history 
and many slaves were owned here and so we deserve our share 
of the blame. The Southerners however did not think it right 
that the North, which had grown rich by the traffic, should 
undertake to free them by force, without repaying to their 
owners one cent of the purchase money. 

There were fanatics in the North who were unwilling to 
work out a plan to gradually free the slaves without bringing 
ruin to the South. The fire-eaters preached hatred of the South¬ 
ern people and slavery, they encouraged the millions of slaves 
to rise against their masters and burn and murder at will. This 
prospect brought terror to the South as with one third of the 
people, slaves, an uprising would have been terrible. 

This, with other acts of an unfriendly section, led the 
Southerners to leave the Union to form their own government, 
one which would give protection to their homes and families. 
Propaganda helped to bring about the Civil War as much as 
anything else. Yes, the Southerners were haughty and proud 
and little disposed to consider the institution of slavery a per¬ 
tinent topic to be discussed only among themselves. It was a 
question that might have, with calm deliberation, been amicably 
settled by statesmen, but the agitation was begun and carried 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


183 


too far by rabid preachers and agitators and when an attempt 
was made in the eleventh hour to avert the impending catastro¬ 
phe, too much passion had been aroused on both sides for a 
settlement to be possible. 

The war was a clash between divergent civilizations and 
rival economics. Northern powers seeking to exploit the South 
as a colony, which they did for ten years after the South had 
conceded defeat. 

“In early days Georgia had forbidden slavery and had 
looked on it as an evil, but she held to States rights to deal with 
it in her own boundaries. To the South it was a matter of 
honor, dignity and equality in the Union and the safety of her 
citizens. As the North and South arrayed themselves against 
each other they lost their reason, they no longer sought to 
understand each other. They even parted their Christian union 
and sought God in opposite directions. The Union was divided 
in politics, religion and every feeling of regard, even families 
were divided.” (History of Ga.—E. M. Coulter) 

Georgia’s golden age in the nation’s history was to fade 
away with the rest of the Southern states as the bonds of 
friendship snapped and a four years of bitter war was fought 
followed by ten blundering years of the most tragic era of all 
called “Reconstruction”. 

The South had a legal right in a great wrong, it was real¬ 
ly a conflict between a legally fortified wrong and unconstitu¬ 
tional and high-handed right. Someone has said the Provi¬ 
dence gave the victory to civilization, against the forms of 
law, heroic devotion to a beloved duty, and as grand a chivalry 
the world has ever known. 

The South drank the bitter cup of reconstruction after 
defeat which was to poison the South as well as the North for 
a hundred years. I have always thought had Pres. Lincoln lived 
and the radicals had not taken over at this period, in the gov¬ 
ernment, the country w r ould have been reunited and the period 
of the tragic reconstruction with its evils would never have been. 

C. W. Williams 


184 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


RECREATION AND CLUBS 

GREENSBORO & GREENE COUNTY’S FIRST 
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION RECORD, 1791 

Less than two years after General George Washington 
had been anaugurated President of these United States, the 
citizens of Greene County met in the village of Greensboro, and 
held a Fourth of July celebration. This event took place on July 
4th, 1791. Unfortunately, the names of those who made speech¬ 
es and offered toasts were not recorded; but we will be safe in 
saying that Major Oliver Porter, Alexander Gresham, Andrew 
and John Armor, William Greer, Jonas Fauche, Nathan Bar¬ 
nett, Isaac and Samuel Pennington, Thomas Houghton, Ezekiel 
E. Park, Nathan Peeples, Isaac Stocks, James Nisbit, William 
Daniell, Robert McAlpin, D. W. Foster, Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, 
William Melton, Sam Dale, and many others were present. 
How do I know this? The answer is easy: all of these men were 
either county officers, or doing military duty along the Oconee 
River and protecting the early settlers against Indian raids, at 
this time, and their patriotism demanded their presence on this 
occasion. 

The south and west bank of the Oconee was thronged with 
Indians who felt that the citizens of Greene were occupying 
lands of which they had been robbed; and they took advantage 
of every opportunity to retaliate. Murder and robberies were 
frequent, and the people were appealing to the state for many 
forts to protect them; and those who were able to do so built 
forts of their own. But in spite of all this, we find their man¬ 
ly spirit reflected in the following, which was taken from The 
Augusta Chronicle of July 30, 1791. 

“Toasts at Greensboro on July 4th, 1791.” 

1. The glorious and memorable 4th of July. 

2. The United States of America. 

3. May the Union last forever. 

4. The Governor and the State of Georgia. (Telfair was Governor) 

5. Brigadier-General McGillvray. 

6. The President of the United States and Federal Officers. 

(George Washington was then President) 

7. May Knownothing blunders never more be* admitted to Constitutional 
records. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


185 


(The “Knownothing” party had caused much trouble) 

8. Tribute to the memory of General Greene. (The Postoffice Department 
had not sliced off the “e” at the end of his namesake—Greensbcuough.) 

9. May the next Indian treaty not require a Continental Tour to make 
it palatable. (Probably, referred to President Washington’s Tour 
through Georgia, in May of the same year) 

10. Tribute to the memory of General Elbert. 

11. The great minority in the Federal Senate that voted against (Two 
words illegible. They seem to be “fees of”) 

12. General James Jackson-Three cheers. 

13. May Continental inhumanity act as a stimulus to the feelings His 
Excellency, our Governor, in his exertions for the relief of our fel¬ 
low citizens, captives in the Creek Nation. 

14. To the memory of those heroes who fell in endeavoring to support 
the Declaration of Independence. 

15. Efco-lon Ifchey The Indian manner of drinking your health seems 
to be the meaning of these words, which were given two different 
versions of the spelling. (There may have been some Indians present) 


In the very early Fourth of July celebrations it was cus¬ 
tomary to give thirteen toasts, one for each of the thirteen 
origininal states; but since Vermont was admitted to statehood 
on March 4, 1791, the Greene County patriots took the new state 
into the fold; and, no doubt, the fifteenth toast was a stroke 
of diplomacy to please the Indians who were present on this 
occasion. 

While Georgia was the youngest of the thirteen original 
Colonies, she was the fourth to have her Constitution ratified 
and be admitted to full-statehood; and Greene County was two 
years old when Georgia became a full-fledged state, Greene hav¬ 
ing been made a county in Feb. 1786, and the state constitution 
ratified in Jan. 1788. 

In order to visualize conditions in Greene just a few 
months prior to the above Fourth of July celebration, I will 
quote from Governor Telfair’s proclamation dated Nov. 27, 
1790; which was also taken from The Augusta Chronicle of 
that date: 

“Governor Telfair’s proclamation dated Nov. 27, 
1790, lamented the hostile disposition of some of the 
Creek Indians. The Governor mentioned that a boy 
named James Rorey was murdered on or about Nov. 

4, 1790 by a party of Indians at a plantation lately oc¬ 
cupied by James Scarlett, deceased, in the county of 


186 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Greene-that several valuable horses had been taken 
off and a rifle-gun forcibly taken by Indians supposed 
to have been of this tribe. ’ 

“John Bradshaw and three other persons chosen by 
and accompanied by Daniel W. Easley (who had ob¬ 
tained my passport to go into the Creek Nation in 
quest of horses stolen from his neighborhood) after 
they had arrived in the said nation and received a pass 
from Alexander McGillvay, Esq., who was at Tucka- 
batchee, supposing it to be an additional protection 
to their persons, as they had been informed their 
lives were in danger, were twice fired upon by a party 
of Indians the second night after leaving the afore¬ 
said Tuckabatchee. 

The Governor requested all military officers and oth¬ 
ers in frontier counties to give notice to the Indians 
regarding the recent treaty and new boundary lines, 
and warn them not to come armed into settled por¬ 
tions of the state.” 

Judge George Walton, one of Georgia’s signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, presided over the first term of 
the Superior Court ever held in Greene County, in January 
1790; and his charge to the Grand Jury, called attention to 
the fact that certain lawless citizens of Greene County, had 
without cause, fired upon a Cusseta Chieftan, and barbarously 
and wantonly murdered, and wounded another Indian of the 
Cusseta tribe. Governor Edward Telfair offered a reward of 
100 pounds ($500) for the apprehension of the man, or men 
who perpetrated this dastardly act, which he said was com¬ 
mitted on Town Creek, in Greene County, about six miles from 
the Oconee River. 

Thus did the wanton acts of some of Greene-and other 
counties-bad citizens aggravate, and prolong the strife between 
the Indians and whites from 1786 to 1802, when the Indians 
were pushed back across the Ocmulgee River. 

During the formative period of Greene County-1786 to 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


187 


1789-it operated under a board of Commissioners composed 
of the following men: Davis Gresham, 'William Greer, Thomas 
Harris, William Fitzpatrick, and Robert Greer. 

The Augusta Chronicle of Dec. 26, 1789 says: “Appoint¬ 
ment of county officers in act passed by last General Assembly 
of Georgia, listed officers for Greene County: 

Sheriff, John Cessna; Clk. Superior Court, John Bradley; 
Clk. Inferior Court, Rhene Fitzpatrick; Tax Collector, Oliver 
Porter; Tax Receiver, Brice Gaither; Register Probates, Wil¬ 
liam Phillips; Surveyor, William Greer, Coroner, Thomas 
Harris. 

The Augusta Chronicle of Feb. 20, 1790, published the 
following list of Justices of Greene County: Thomas Harris, 
Thomas Horton, Davis Gresham often spelled David Gresham, 
Wm. Fitzpatrick, Henry Graybill, David Love, Oliver Porter, 
Walton Harris, John Bailey, Charles Cessna, Thomas Baldwin, 
Mathew Rabon, John George, Alexander Reid, Michael Rog¬ 
ers, David Dickson. (Name was also spelled Dixon) 


GREENE COUNTY’S SECOND JULY 4TH 

In last week’s Herald-Journal, I told of Greene County’s 
first celebration of the Glorious Fourth of July; but since that 
article did not tell where the festivities took place, or the 
names of anyone present, the following sketch enables us to 
visualize the scene more clearly; and I call your attention to 
the fact that, the “Town Spring” was none other than the 
spring that is now a valuable adjunct to Greensboro’s City 
Waterworks, and known as “Love’s Spring.” Prior to this 
second Fourth of July Celebration, this very spot had been 
used as a “Field of Honor,” where Major Jonas Fauche de¬ 
fended his honor under the “Code el Duelo,” and killed his 
opponent who had criticised his vote in the Legislative Act 
known as “The Yazoo Fraud,” for which Fauche voted. There 
fore, without taking undue credit, the writer will quote from 
The Augusta Cronicle of July 14, 1792: 


188 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“GREENSBORO, Georgia, July 7. Wednesday last being the 4th 
of July, a number of Ladies and Gentlemen convened at the Town Spring 
to celebrate the anniversary of American Independencei. At 3 o'clock they 
sat down to an elegant dinner. Colonel Henry Karr, president, and Dr. 
Elihu Lymann, vice-president, when the following toasts were given under 
a discharge of the cannon, viz., 

(1) The fifteen United States. (Kentucky had just been admitted) 

(2) The President. 

(3) The Senate and House of Representatives. 

(4) May this Anniversary be remembered with honor to the latest ages. 

(5) May Congress relinquish their oppressive grasp of the territorial 

(6) The Commander in Chief of the Western Army. 

(7) The Governor, State, and fair sisters of Georgia. 

(8) Louis, 16th, and National Assembly of France^ 

(9) The Marquis de la Fayette. 

(10) The author of the Rights of Man. 

(11) The memory of General Warren. 

(12) The memory of General Nathaniel Greene. 

(13) The memory of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. 

(14) The memory of those brave heroes who fell in the cause of 
LIBERTY. (Revolution) 

(16) The County of Greene. 

The day was spent in festivity and mirth.” 


After a lapse of one hundred and forty-six y\ears since this 
memorable Fourth of July Celebration, Greene County has 
given much of her territory to form Hancock, Oglethorpe, 
Clark, Taliaferro, and what is now, Oconee County; and if we 
do not watch our “P’s & Q’s” some upstart may make the 
effort to carve out another county to be named for some far 
lesser light than General Nathaniel Greene; and, unless our 
people become more history minded that very thing is liable 
to happen. 

“Time Marches On;” and if we do not keep step in know¬ 
ledge and patriotism we will be swallowed up by those who do. 

WHITE PLAINS INDEPENDENCE DAY PROGRAM 

IN 1826 

The following was taken from The Georgia Reporter 
and Christian Gazette Vol. 1 No. 14, Monday July 10, 1826. 
B. Gildersleve & Co., Publishers, Sparta, Hancock County, Ga. 

White Plains, Greene County. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


189 


“The anniversary of our National independence was cele¬ 
brated by a large and respectable number of citizens at White 
Plains, with unusual demonstrations of joy and gratitude. The 
citizens met as early as ten o’clock, and assembled at the 
church where the exercises of the day were opened by a pray¬ 
er from the Rev. E. Battle. The Declaration of Independence 
was then read by Benjamin Colquitt, and an Oration truly 
patriotic and eloquent was delivered by William McGibboney 
Esq., which received the unanimous applause of the hearers. 

The company then retired to a dinner prepared by Ab- 
solom Baugh, Esq., at which Richard Baugh, Esq. presided, 
assisted by Mr. Lewis Hines, as Vice-President. The unanimity 
and good feeling which prevailed on this occasion will long be 
remembered by all who were present with the greatest pleasure. 
The cloth being removed the following toasts were drunk. 

(1) The Day We Celebrate—The anniversary of the Declaration of the 
rights of man. 

(2) George Washington—To his worth language denies a proper eulogy but 
in grateful silence we muse his praise. 

(3) The Constitution of the United States—If it were construed according 
to its meaning, it would be the ark of our safety. 

(4) The Declaration of Independence!—May it never be forgotten by a free 
people. 

(5) Our Country and its Laws—Love for the one, and submission to the 
other. 

(6) The Confederation of ’76—Distinguished for its vision, venerated for 
its patroitism. 

(7) Hon. John Forsyth—His zealous exertions in Congress entitle him 
to the highest honors of our State. 

(8) The Citizens of Georgia—Free, honest and enlightened may the pre¬ 
judice of education or the force of party never make them guilty of 
treason against themselves. 

(9) The General Government—So long as it was administered by wise and 
impartial hands, so long and no longer, were individual states bound 
to respect and submit to its decrees. 

(10) The Heroes of ’76—May their virtues and patriotism ever be perpetuat¬ 
ed by the annual testimonials of a grateful posterity. 

(11) Campbell and Merriwether—The people of Georgia are not forgetful of 
your services and will vindicate with firmness, your honor and integrity, 
even though impeached by such scoundrels as Crowell, Hamby and 
others. 

(12) Governor George M. Troup—The incorruptible politician, the indefatig¬ 
able supporter of the rights of Georgia. Like Shaderach, Meshah and 
Abednego, he has passed unhurt through the firy furnace. 

(13) The Fair—Without the smile from partial beauty won, O, what were 
man?-a world without a sun. 


190 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


VOLUNTEERS 

By the President—To John Quincy Adams-May his political days be few 
and another take his office. 

By the V-President—May Old Bachelors be double-taxed for the support 
of Old Maids. 

By Wooten O’Neal—The State of Georgia. Rich in resources, Demo¬ 
cratic in principle, may strong powers than are at the head of the general 
government vindicate her struggle. 

By Captain William Vincent—Representative Democracy. The strongest 
and purest government on earth, may it speed on its course until every na¬ 
tion shall be in the enjoyment of a charter, which shall make the peoples’ 
good, the only object of the government, and the common good the. only 
object of the people. 

By E. McGibboney—The Fair Sex—We know their worth and we adore, 
and wish there were as many more. That modest worth might get a wife, 
and bachelors go into a lonely life. 

The above was copied verbatim, and no effort was made to streamline 
it to fit the situation as we find it in the year ninteen-thirty-eight. 

Note: This patriotic gathering of the people of White Plains, in 1826, 
is characteristic of her citizenship as it is in 1938. They stand true to the 
ideals of their forefathers. T. B. R. 


P. S. 


The account of the celebration of Independence Day at White Plains 
on July 10, 1826, is the earliest news item that we have found in any of 
the old newspapers, concerning that town. 

It will be noticed that there were thirteen toasts. It was customary 
then to have thirteen toasts, one for each of the thirteen original 
states on patriotic occasions. These, were usually followed by volunteer 
toasts. Toast No. 11 shows the resentment felt toward certain people 
involved in questions regarding removal of the Indians and other ques¬ 
tions pertaining to Indians, particularly the Creeks who were to be re¬ 
moved in 1827 and certain dealings with the Cherokees. The toasts pro¬ 
posed at the celebrations in Powellton and Sparta in the same year, 
reflect the same spirit of resentment toward Crowell, Hamby and 
others. The celebration at White Plains is one of the few where a 
toast to William H. Crawford was not included in the thirteen formal 
toasts. 

In all probability, the William McGibboney who delivered the patriotic 
address, was the ancestor of our own greatly beloved citizen, T. H. 
McGibbony; the two Baughs mentioned were most certainly related to 
Hal and Bethea Baugh and their sister, Mrs. Fred Hunter: and Charles 
O. G., and Miss Annie Baugh are also descendents. Captain William 
Vincent was the grandfather of the late Mr. C. C. Vincent and his 
brother, Luther. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


191 


ST. MARINO LODGE NO. 28, F. & A. M. LATER, SAN 
MARINO LODGE NO. 34 F. & A. M. 

Charter issued March 1, 1822, at Savannah, Ga., and sign¬ 
ed; Thomas U. P. Charlton, Grand Master; Jeremiah Cuyler, 

Grand Senior Warden; Paul P. Thomason, Grand Treasurer; 

Jacob De La Motta, Grand Secretary. 

Officers named in Chapter, Gustavus Fillmore, Worshipful 
Master; Thomas J. McLeskie, Senior Warden; Thomas B. 
Smith, Junior Warden. 

Charter issued Jan. 24, 1844, at Milledgeville, Ga., and 
signed William C. Dawson, Grand Master; Joseph Adkins, 

Grand S. Warden; Grand J. Warden; E. P. Prince, A Grand 
Secretary. 

Officers named in Chapter, Yelverton P. King, Worship¬ 
ful Master; James M. Porter, Senior Warden; William C. 
Dawson, Junior Warden. 


No minutes of the original Lodge can be found, and the 
Grand Secretary is unable to give me any information relative 
to the twenty-two years of the existence of the St. Marino 
Lodge No. 28, F. & A. M., or as to why we have two Chapters, 
although, the Minute Book started on May 25, 1843, shows 
where the representatives to the Grand Lodge made an effort 
to get the matter of the suspension of the original Lodge 
straightened out. This, they seemed unable to do; and, the 
original number (28) had been given to another Lodge. 

The first minutes recorded by San Marino Lodge No. 34, 
show that the meeting was held under Dispensation granted 
by William L. Mitchell, Deputy Grand Master, and those pre¬ 
sent at that meeting were: Yelverton P. King, W. M. James, 
M. Porter, Senior Warden; William C. Dawson, J. W., W. 
W. D. Weaver, James W. Godkin, James Twilley, Tames M. 
Davidson, Jesse M. Wilson, John S. Wright, Joseph Murphey, 
W. P. Arnold, and Henry Sanford. 

Thus it will be seen that, San Marino operated under 
Dispensation from May 25, 1843, to January 24, 1844. 

Neither of the three officers named in the original Chart¬ 
er (Gustavus Fillmore, Thomas J. McLeskie, and Thomas B. 
Smith) appear on the roll in 1844. However, we must assume 
that all of those present at the first meeting held under Dis- 


192 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


pensation on May 25, 1843, had all been members of the orig¬ 
inal Lodge and in good standing. Georgia Masonic Historians 
are unanimous in the opinion that, William C. Dawson was 
probably the greatest Grand Master that Georgia ever had; and 
held office longer than any other Grand Master. This was not 
due to his efforts; but to the spontaneous desire of his brethren 
who knew his worth to the craft. 

Dawson became Grand Master during the most turbulent 
period of anti-Mason hatred; and the craft in Georgia, had 
dwindled to a mere handful. The Morgan expose had reached 
nation wide proportions; and the presidential election hinged 
on Masonry and anti-Masonry. Masonry was charged with 
having put into practice all the penalties that Morgan claimed 
their oaths prescribed, and he painted a diabolical picture that 
many newspapers gave wide publicity. This had a most disaster- 
ous effect upon Masonry, and it took such giants as William 
C. Dawson and other great leaders to combat it; and nobly did 
he undertake the task. It is said that William C. Dawson’s 
funeral attracted the largest crowd that ever attended any 
funeral in Georgia, up to that time. 

During his administration as Grand Master, Masonry took 
on new life. Lodges multiplied rapidly, and thousands of new 
members were received each year. 

Other great and good men have followed Dawson, but none 
have transcended his record as statesman, jurist, citizen and 
Mason. 

Another member of San Marino Lodge has reached the 
highest office within the gift of Georgia Masons, and he grac¬ 
ed the office of Grand Master. I refer to Past-Grand Master, 
N. H. Ballard, than whom, no brighter Mason ever lived in 
Georgia. His picture rests on easel just to the right of that of 
William C. Dawson. 

Again referring to Grand Master, William C. Dawson, 
who died May 6, 1856, the minutes of San Marino lodge of 
June 4, 1856, state that, “William C. Dawson was the first 
Grand Master of Georgia to die while in office.” The sub- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


193 


ject of erecting a monument to the memory of Grand Master 
Dawson, was discussed at several meetings of the Lodge; 
and, on May 4, 1795, the following committee was appointed 
to communicate with the craft throughout the state for the pur¬ 
pose of raising funds to erect the monument: Johnson, Morri¬ 
son, Godkin, and John F. Zimmerman. Thus we must conclude 
that the monument that stands in the Greensboro cemetery 
telling of the virtues of William Crosby Dawson, was erected 
by his Masonic brethren throughout the State of Georgia. 

San Marino flourished from its reorganization in 1844, 
until the War between the States. And, even during the war, 
they met at intervals, although, all of the younger men, and 
many in middle-life were at the front. 

Many of Greene’s finest citizens deemed it an honor to 
have their names on the roll of San Marino Lodge. In 1867, 
we find 71 names on the roll, and a careful checking, reveals 
the fact, that, practically all of them had been soldiers in the 
late war. 

The minutes of San Marino along in 1890, read as fol¬ 
lows: “A Lodge of Master Masons was opened in due and 
ancient form. Present, W. M. Weaver, W. M., J. P. Wilson, 
S. W., O. T. Irby, J. W., B. F. Bickers, Secretary, and other 
officers and brethren.” The other officers and brethren were 
usually, James L. Crossley, M. Markwalter, and T. B. Rice. 
Brother T. S. Irby was Tyler, and was usually at his post; 
but, many a time have I seen barely enough present to open 
the Lodge and five or six present would be considered a good 
crowd. 

This state of affairs continued until 1805, when business 
began to pick up. In 1896, we find the following names seeking 
Masonic Light: E. L. Hall, E. D. Jones, Dr. J. H. Gheesling, 
L. P. Jernigan, Dr. J. C. Ashbury, H. T. Evans, Rev. J. H. 
Gambrell, Joel Cloud, H. B. Hart, C. M. King, James B. 
Park, L. L. Little, R. E. Davison, J. J. Sanders and others. 
Liberty and Union Point had given up their Charters, and we 
find W. J. Newsome, R. B. Smith, John C. Hart, W. C. D. 
Lundy, and many others bring their Dimits and asking to Af¬ 
filiate with us. 


194 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


At the close of 1896, we had the following Past-Masters 
Dr. W. E. Adams, James L. Brown, Dr. J. M. Griffin, W .M. 
Weaver, and M. Markwalter, J. B. Park and T. B. Rice. 

The roster of Past Masters who are still living and who 
are still members of San Marino Lodge is as follows: James 
B. Park, T. B. Rice, H. M. Spinks, Noel P. Park, S. A. Tor- 
bert, C. C. Wills, C. E. Robinson, R. F. Taylor, T. H. McGi- 
bony, J. L. Calloway, C. H. Crumbley, J. L. Crossley, and C. J. 
Williams. 

T. B. Rice has been a member of the craft longer than 
any on the list. He was made a Mason by Gate City Lodge 
No. 2, of Atlanta, Ga., in 1886, and his companions in seeking 
Masonic Light were; Henry W. Grady, and Dr. J. B. Haw¬ 
thorn; and their conductor was none other than, our greatly 
beloved Past-Grand Master Thomas H. Jeffries. 

Let us hope that the tenets of our most honorable profes¬ 
sion, will be the guide for the officers and members of San 
Marino throughout the coming years, and that they will hand 
down to their successors, a record undefiled. 

MEMORIAL TO ANDERSON TERRELL, NEGRO 
JANITOR OF SAN MARINO LODGE NO. 34, F. & A. M. 

NOTE: By special request, San Marino Lodge asked T. B. 

Rice to draft a memorial to Anderson Terrell who was the colored 
janitor for a number of years. Perhaps, this is the only instance in 
which a Lodge of Georgia Masons ever paid tribute to an humble 
negro janitor; but this negro’s faithfulness deserves a page dedicated 
to his memory. .cOp 

Anderson Terrell was born about the beginning of the 
War Between the States, therefore, born a slave. When a small 
boy his mother hired him to Brother Martin Markwalter, who 
for a great number of years was a member, Master, and Past- 
Master of San Marino Lodge. Brother Markwalter must have 
instilled into this boy the virtues of honesty, integrity and faith¬ 
fulness; and these virtues that he possessed in such a marked 
degree should be a rebuke to many free-born Anglo-Saxons who 
departed therefrom. Though unable to read or write, he pos- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


195 


sessed a rare intelligence and splendid memory. After Brother 
Markwalter moved to Florida, in the early 1880’s, Anderson 
was employed as janitor for the Greensboro Baptist Church, 
which position he held until he was retired on a pension in 1936. 
This position did not require all of his time, so he became the 
yard-man and gardner for Mr. Charles A. Davis. Mr. Davis 
found Anderson trustworthy and faithful. And, when he moved 
to Atlanta, Anderson transferred his activities to the yard and 
garden of T. B. Rice, which position he held until he became 
too feeble to work. In the fall of 1936, T. B. Rice retired him 
on a pension. 

Some years ago he was given the job of janitor for San 
Marino Lodge, and he filled that position most faithfully until 
he became too feeble to climb the stairs, and was given a pen¬ 
sion for his faithfulness. When he died on April 4, 1937, San 
Marino Lodge sent a wreath of flowers for his bier. Anderson 
was also Janitor for the Bank of Greensboro and the Presby¬ 
terian Church. The Presbyterian Church pensioned him also. 
He did many odd jobs for countless Greensboro citizens, and 
never once was he even suspected of dishonesty or slackness 
in his work. 

In all probability, we shall never see the life of Anderson 
Terrell again. Anderson was a Christian and tried to live up¬ 
rightly before God and man; and when the Supreme Architect 
of the Universe calls us from Labor to Refreshment, Ander¬ 
son’s radiant smile will welcome us on the “other shore.” 


RECREATION AND AMUSEMENTS 

“The Greensboro Jockey Club Races will commence for 
the first time at Greensboro on the 5th Wednesday of Novem¬ 
ber next, free for any horse, mare or gelding belonging to any 
citizen in the state of Georgia three months previous to the 
date of running.” 

“The proportionate sums to be run for shall be at least 
as follows; viz., the first day purse, three mile heats, - two 
hundred and fifty dollars; the second days purse, two mile heats, 


196 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


one hundered and fifty dollars; the third day’s purse, one mile 
heat, for entrance money. 

“Ordered that this advertisement be published in the Au¬ 
gusta Chronicle and Washington Monitor and continuing week¬ 
ly until the time of the races.” 


W. W. Strain, Secretary 


A GARDEN CLUB FOR GREENE COUNTY 

“Plans to organize a club devoted to floriculture” were 
announced. Meeting to organize was to be held Friday after¬ 
noon at 3 o’clock Sept. 28, 1894, at the home of Mrs. James 
B. Park. Among charter members listed were, Mrs. Judge 
Thornton, Mrs. M. Markwalter, Mrs. T. B. Rice, Miss Clay¬ 
ton, Mrs. George Hall, Mrs. Vince Hall, Mrs. E. D. Jones, 
Mrs. H. T. Lewis, Mrs. Phil Robinson, Mrs. H. T. Evans, 
and many others will join. “Our gentleman friends are expect¬ 
ed to patronize our shows, and buy our button-hole bouquets. 
It will help us out in the most refined way to enjoy ourselves.” 

Mrs. J. B. Park 


GREENSBORO FAIR ASSOCIATION 

“The grounds are located on the edge of the north¬ 
western part of the city. From appearances a great deal of labor 
has been expended upon them. The buildings are well arranged. 
The main exhibition hall is large and commodious. The differ¬ 
ent flags and mottos were all in good taste. Wednesday was 
mostly occupied by making entries. Notwithstanding the day 
was rather showery and unfavorable, a very large number of 
entries were made and a respectable number present. As the day 
closed the rain set in and the prospect was gloomy. We noticed 
persons moving about with long faces; but Thursday morning 
dawned upon us with a clear sky, and the prospect was fair 
for a bright day. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


197 


About nine o’clock the cannon boomed the signal to move 
toward the Fair Ground. There seemed to be a perfect “ground 
swell,” preceded by the Greensboro Band, which made the 
welkin ring with the concord of sweet sounds. A large number 
assembled at the grandstand. As the ground was rather muddy 
from the last night’s rain, there was no trotting, but the exhi¬ 
bition of the finest stallions, etc., took place. 

About twelve o’clock the contest came off between the 
Greensboro Brass Band and the Social Circle Cornet Band. 
The latter were present by special invitation and were the 
guests of the former. It was announced from the stand that a 
thirty-dollar silver cornet would be awarded to the band which 
played the best, also that the Circle Band had ten month’s prac¬ 
tice and the Greensboro Band twelve months. There being but 
eight of the Circle Band present, a like number was chosen 
from the Greensboro Band. There were three pieces performed 
alternately by each Band. The execution was very fine. The 
marks of the Judges stood: Greensboro 120-1/2, Social Circle 
120; so the former Band will carry off the premium. The 
Greensboro Band has the reputation of being the best amateur 
band in the State, and is the pet of Professor Holt, their teach¬ 
er, of Augusta. It is composed of first class gentlemen, and the 
members of the Circle Band so esteem them. 

“In the afternoon there was some trotting and pacing 
and some very fine two horse turn-outs. Conspicuous among 
them was John Henry Carleton, who always receives a full 
share of the premiums. 

“JACKSON COUNTY 

Jackson County carried off some of the largest premiums. 

White Plains was not behind in having premiums awarded. 

The Floral Hall attracted much attention. In it was dis¬ 
played a fine exhibition of the handiwork of the fair ladies of 
Greensboro and Greene County. Quilts, counterpanes, embroid¬ 
ery, etc., some fine paintings, drawings, wax works, etc., show- 


198 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ing that the ladies have not neglected the fine arts; also, that 
they think of something good to eat and drink, as we noticed 
some fine breads. 


Cake, Preserves, Jellies 

Butter, domestic wines, cordials, garden vegetables, fine 
specimens of field crops etc. We were sorry we did not learn 
the names of those who had various articles on exhibition, as 
the names were not attached, but the articles simply numbered. 

On the grounds we noticed some fine stock: horses, cattle, 
and swine, also some fine sheep, entered by Col. J. B. Hart of 
Union Point—one weighing 275 pounds. Your city was also 
represented, Mr. Smith, for Capt. Mark W. Johnson, had on 
exhibition, a fine variety of seeds. Mr. Anderson of the firm 
of Anderson and Wells had some fine Indianapolis wagons on 
exhibition, who also keep on hand and sell the Watts plow, 
which takes the premium at every fair, where it is exhibited. 
Everything passed off quite pleasantly on Thursday night. 

A Grand Concert was given at the Female College by the 
Greensboro Brass Band and the Augusta Amateur Club. The 
chapel was crowded, the music superior, and everyone seemed 
to be delighted. After the concert there was a Torchlight Pro¬ 
cession preceded by the Greensboro and Circle Bands playing 
alternately. After marching through various streets, the pro¬ 
cession halted at the Court-House, where several balloons 
were sent up, also, some very fine fireworks, everything pass¬ 
ing off to the delight of everybody. About twelve o’clock a 
general dispersion took place, all seeking a place to rest. 

Friday morning there could be seen a constant stream of 
persons, white and black, making their way to the Fair Grounds, 
’till a very large crowd had assembled. 

The exhibition of stock, trotting, and pacing was resumed, 
also three young ladies during the morning made a contest for 
the champion equestrianship. We understand the Tournament 
was to come off in the afternoon, and the crowning of the 
Queen of Beauty, and a grand ball that night. We must say that 
the Greensboro Fair was a grand success. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


199 


FIRST FAIR AT UNION POINT 

We are indebted to Mr. C. J. Thornton of Atlanta, Ga., 
for a pamphlet or, description of the first Agricultural Fair, 
which was held at Union Point. The cover reads as follows: 

FIRST 

GRAND ANNUAL FAIR OF THE 
GREENE COUNTY 

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY, 

UNION POINT, GREENE COUNTY, GEORGIA, 

WILL COMMENCE 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1872, AND CONTINUE THREE DAYS. 
The organization consisted of the following officers of the 


“UNION POINT FAIR GROUND CLUB.” 

P. W. PRINTUP, President 
T. M. BRYAN, Secretary-Treasurer 
J. F. HART, Assistant 


Managers 

R. G. CARLTON 
J. B. HART 
L. D. CARLTON 
E. S. BOWDEN 

R. B. SMITH 

ORGANIZATION OF THE 
GREENE COUNTY 

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY 


Officers: 

Dr. THOS. P. JANES, President 

Rev. WM. BRYAN, First Vice-President 

Rev. JOSHUA KNOWLES, Second Vice-President 

Capt. J. R. SANDERS, Third Vice-President 

J. C. BROWN, Secretary 

WM. H. BRANCH, Treasurer 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: 

137th District—Dr. J. M. GRIFFIN 
138th District—JAMES DAVISON 


200 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 

139th District—JAS. B. HART 
141st District—L. D. CARLTON 
142nd District—E. A. VEAZEY 
143rd District—J. B. Y. WARNER 
144th District—Dr. J. D. MOORE 
145th District—GEO. C. DAVIS 
146th District—Capt. L. B. WILLIS 
147th District—THOS. S. MILLER 
148th District—CHAS. M. SANDERS 
149th District—WALTER WRAY 
160th District—J. B. COPELAND 
161st District—J. B. PARK 

In addition to 208 cash prizes ranging from $2.00 to 
$25.00, there were numerous other awards. Premiums were of¬ 
fered for every imaginable farm and home product; all of 
which would indicate that Greene county had real farmers in 
those days. 

The list included such items as, the best half-acre of ruta¬ 
baga turnips; best half-acre of white turnips; best half-acre of 
carrots; best half-acre of mangol wortzel beets etc., etc. 

Prizes were also offered for the best set of home-made 
plow-gear; plow-stocks; home-made plow-points; home-made 
wagons and buggies; best homespun and made suit of clothes; 
the best pair home-made ladies kid gloves; the best pair of 
kid gauntlets for gentlemen. 

There are thirteen pages of articles for which premiums 
were offered. Some will say: Oh yes, those were the good old 
days when Greene county was prosperous; but-I will emphati¬ 
cally deny any such statement. It was just seven years after the 
close of the war between the states. And almost without excep¬ 
tion, these farmers had to begin life anew, and without money 
or credit. Their “come-back” was truly remarkable. 

Let us compare the period with what followed the World 
War that closed in 1918. While our young men were in train¬ 
ing and fighting in France, we who stayed at home, were roll¬ 
ing in wealth and indulging in all sorts of extravagances. Money 
came so easily that we did not have to work much in order to 
get what we wanted. Forty cent cotton meant fifty dollars per 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


201 


acre for five dollar land, and everybody wanted more land in 
order to make more forty cent cotton. Lots of them mortgaged 
what land they already had in order to secure the payment of 
other land that they thought they wanted. They just knew cot¬ 
ton would always be worth forty cents per pound and made it 
on that basis. 

Cotton is now five cents per pound, and there are thou¬ 
sands of acres of Greene county land that changed hands when 
cotton was bringing forty cents, that will not bring one dollar 
per acre now. Our people have forgotten how to make horse 
collars and plow stocks, and otherwise live at home. We are 
ashamed to wear cotton stockings and eat home-raised food. We 
jump in our cars and drive down to the grocery store and buy 
Florida vegetables and Canadian ruta-bagas. (1938) 

We are paying premiums for farm products all right, but 
the premiums are going to farmers and manufacturers in other 
states. 

If our fathers staged a “come-back” in a remarkably short 
time, why can’t we do the same thing? 

Greene County will again “blossom like a rose.” Are we 
going to bring it about, or, are we going to wait for outsiders 
to come here and do it for us? 

“There is more in the man than there is in the land,” and 
we have as good land, as good climate, as good water, as fine 
pastures, as good people as any place on earth, and the oppor¬ 
tunity is ours. 


Chapter VII 
Education 

Some of the larger planters began to pay more attention 
to education. In 1826 Brockman United Academy was incor¬ 
porated, in 1786 the Greensboro Academy, in 1827 Lafayette 
Hall Academy, in 1831 Thornton Academy, in 1834 White 
Plains Academy ,and in 1840 the Penfield Female Academy 
was chartered. 

The most outstanding educational development in 1829 
was the establishing of Mercer University. (Institute at first) 
Josiah Penfield, a Baptist Deacon in Savannah gave $2,500 to 
the Baptist Convention for education on condition that an 
equal amount be raised. The amount was raised by, Jesse Mer¬ 
cer, Adiel Sherwood, William Flournoy, Thomas Stocks, all 
of Greene county and others at the Convention. 

It was decided to locate the school in Greene county. 
Oliver Porter, Billington Sanders, James Armstrong, Absalom 
and Thomas James all assisted in locating the school here. 
Four hundred and fifty acres of land seven miles north of 
Greensboro was purchased and the town of Penfield came into 
being. The school was named Mercer Institute for Jesse Mer¬ 
cer, who later gave $40,000 to the school. Jesse Mercer got 
much of this money from his second wife, a woman of consid¬ 
erable wealth. She was a Gentile who inherited money from 
her Jewish husband, Capt. Abram Simons, a Revolutionery 
soldier. (See story of Mercer) 

The Greensboro Female Academy was established in 1852 
by the Ga. Synod of the Presbyterian Church. (Jan. 2, 1852) 
They had some teachers from the east and north. They were 
Louisa Mae Alcott, author of “Little Women”, Anne Maria 
Lyman who married Julius Poullian, son of Thomas Poullain, 
one of the wealthiest men in the county. William H. Seward, 
the hated Sec. of War during the Civil War was a teacher 
at Union Academy as well as at White Plains Academy. 

Dr. I. S. K. Axon was President of the Greensboro 
Academy, the Trustees were: Sen. W. C. Dawson, Cong. Fran- 


202 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


203 


cis Cone, Dr. Joseph R. Wilson preached here and years lat¬ 
er his son Thomas Woodrow (President of the U. S. A.) 
married the daughter of Dr. Axon. 

Then and Now in Schools 

The boys and girls of today can hardly visualize the dif¬ 
ference in their advantages over the old days in the one room 
teacher school of their grandfathers and grandmothers. 

Now they ride on commodious school buses, and have hot 
lunches and free textbooks, and are nicely dressed as they enter 
the beautiful brick school buildings, centrally heated in winter, 
well lighted and cool in summer. 

Any oldster can reminisce and tell you that when he trudg¬ 
ed along by-paths, across fields and through woods, over the 
creeks that he would finally reach the one room school after 
a three mile walk. 

He had a tin dinner bucket and a striped bed-ticking 
booksatchel that got heavy before he arrived. The boys had 
to take turns bringing in the wood and going to the spring 
for water. 

The one teacher reached the school house early enough 
to sweep the floor, build the fire and gather up scattered books 
and the slates and pencils. When it rained, few had raincoats 
or umbrellas. The creeks rose and the paths got muddy and 
slick. There were no bridges and the streams had to be cross¬ 
ed on foot-logs that were sometimes covered with water. A 
child had only one pair of boots, if that, and they had to be 
cleaned and dried before the fire when he got to school or 
home in the evening. There the shoes were greased with tallow 
or neats foot oil to help soften them. 

The big boys had a turtle-shaped bottle of David’s ink 
a steel pen and pen staff and a copy book, the figuring was 
done on a slate with a scratchy slate pencil. Some had sponges 
tied on their slate but most of the pupils spit on the slates and 
wiped them with their coat sleeves. The blackboard wiper 
was a piece of woolly sheep-skin nailed on a block of wood, 
and there was little chalk. 


204 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


There was not a pane of glass in the windows and only 
wooden shutters shut out the cold, while on the sunny side of 
the building one was opened for light. 

When fingers and toes got stiff with the cold the pupils 
were permitted to thaw them out before the fire and take 
turns letting others come as they returned to their seats. The 
parents paid the tuition and bought the few books and when 
a book was torn there was a paddling from the teacher and 
when he got home he got another, from his father. This was 
in the 1870’s. 

Instead of the teacher whipping the boys now, the order 
is reversed. How times have changed! 


CHESTNUTS AND RABBIT-TOBACCO 

As Indian Summer approaches and the shadows begin to 
fall northward instead of east and west as they do in sum¬ 
mer; our mind drifts back to the days in the long ago when 
school “took-in” for the long, fall term. Father had carried 
us to town, fitted us out with new clothes-including some fancy 
“galluses”, a pair of “gaters”, or brogans, and how they did 
hurt our “stumped” big toe, stone-bruises and other results of 
a barefoot summer. Shoes did not come packed in pairs, but 
were strung together, and the soles were put on with wooden 
pegs. The pegs extended to the inside of the shoes, and had to 
be cut with a peg-cutter. Sometimes, the merchant or clerk, did 
not do a good job of peg cutting; and this gave us an excuse 
for going back to town. Then, too, the old blue-back speller 
had become so thumbed that many hard words had been worn 
from the bottom of each page from a-b, ab to the boy stealing 
apples, in the back of the book. This called for a new spelling 
book. The old slate had been broken, the slate-pencils lost; and 
we had been advanced a step in arithmetic and McGuffey’s 
readers, so, several new books had to be broken-in. After their 
clean, new pages had been brought to our attention, and we 
had been forced to compare them with those we had just dis¬ 
carded; we were given an ear-boxing and an assortment of 
thumb-papers with the admonition to use them. This was fol- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


205 


lowed up from day-to-day as we brought our books home for 
night study; and a dirty thumb spot resulted in another ear¬ 
boxing or worse. 

Of course, if the weather was hot, the teacher allowed us 
to remove our coats and show our new “galluses,” but how 
those shoes did hurt. However, off they came just as soon as 
we got out of sight of the school house, on our homeward 
journey of one to three miles. 

Every Friday afternoon was “speakin” days for the boys, 
and composition days for the girls. “The boy stood on the 
burning deck;” “Old Grimes is dead,” that good old man, and 
Marco Bozares”, resounded in every country school house in 
the land. Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was taboo, then. Every 
school boy hailed the approach of Saturday With whistling 
glee. School togs were cast aside, and every day wear felt 
mighty good. Of course, there were chores to do. “Pa” said: 
after you have hoed the garden, picked some cotton, salted 
the cows, fed and counted the pigs, found the hole in the fence 
where the hogs have been getting in the corn field, turned the 
mules in the pasture after they have been fed. then, you may 
go fishing. However, fishing was not the only amusement in 
those days. In fact, we had about caught all the perch, mud- 
cats and hornyheads before the summer was over; and it takes 
a mighty frosty morning to lure the suckers from their hiding 
place under the banks; and sucker fishing is mighty poor sport 
anyway. 

Chestnut and chinquipin hunting was far more attractive 
when the leaves began to turn yellow, and “bulaces” (musca¬ 
dines) are mighty sweet at that time. Rabbit-tobacco (life-ever¬ 
lasting) has dried on the stalk; and what red-blooded boy never 
smoked “rabbit-tobacco” in a corn-cob pipe? 

Almost every hill was covered with chestnut trees; and 
there was never a country boy who was not fond of chestnuts. 
However, chestnut gathering is not an individual sport like 
fishing. It requires teamwork to gather chestnuts. Some must 
climb the trees and frail the nuts down, while others, “chunk” 
sticks at the outer limbs that cannot be reached by the climbers; 


206 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


while others pick up the nuts. When the frailing and chunking 
were over, all hands fall-to and gather up the nuts which are 
piled in one great pile. The boys would then arrange themselves 
around the pile, and when the signal was given, each boy would 
go to raking in and counting. One hundred nuts was the unit, 
and when the fast counters reached one hundred, they would 
yell out, “one-hundred,” and wait for the others to catch up. 
When the pile got small, the unit would drop to 50, 25, 10 and 
five, and thus proceed until the chestnuts were all counted into 
separate piles. There was no cheating and each boy got his full 
share. Each boy carried his own knap-sack, which, as a rule, was 
his book-satchel made of bed-ticking. 

The boy who couldn’t “stomp-out” chestnuts with his 
bare heel was looked upon as a “sissy”, but how those stickers 
did hurt when those Sunday shoes had to be put on the next 
day. 

In 1937, chestnut trees are a curiosity, the book satchel 
has been discarded; and those who carry lunch to school, carry 
it in thermos containers. The boys and girls who have never 
had the privilege of carrying a tin dinner-bucket to school, and 
when the noon hour came, sat down in the shade, removed the 
lid and pulled out a fat biscuit, made a hole in the side of it 
with his index finger and filled the hole with molasses, and 
munched it along with fried chicken, ham and other things 
that had been prepared for their lunch, have missed much in 
life. And, if they never dammed up the branch to make a 
“wash-hole”, they are just out of luck. 

The boys and girls who were reared after this fashion, 
know how to meet every emergency in life; and they do not go 
whining to “Uncle Sam” every time a little depression comes 
along. This is why our forefathers and mothers could meet 
adversity with a smile, and cut out th garment to fit the cloth. 

FIRST SCHOOLS 

The first school of record in Greene County, was esta¬ 
blished in Greensboro in 1786, and was known as the Union 
Academy. “Rector’ Ray was in charge, and here, one of Geor- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


207 


gia’s famous teachers began his career. I refer to Dr. Moses 
Waddell. He came here from North Carolina when a boy of 
about eighteen, and was probably attracted on account of 
Greensboro having been laid out for the University of Georgia; 
was looking for a job as teacher. He taught in the Union Aca¬ 
demy in the fall of 1786, and the spring of 1787. He was re¬ 
elected as teacher, and went to North Carolina to bring his 
parents to Georgia. When he returned with his parents and 
their household possessions in an ox-cart, he found Greensboro 
in ashes. The Indians had burned the town in his absence, and 
he saw no prospect for a school at that time. So he drove on 
to Bethany, and there he established a private school where 
he taught one year. From Bethany, he moved to Columbia 
County, where his record as an educator started, and where 
historians begin their record of his famous career. The old 
Union Academy served as a school building until after the 
War of 1861-65, and there are a few people now living, who 
went to school there. This building stood on cemetery hill and 
about where the new Chapel is now being built. Some of the 
timbers from this old school building are in the structure of 
the old barn that is near by. 

The old log church that was built by the Methodist about 
1800, was converted into a school house for girls after a new 
church was built. At least one of the “girls” who attended this 
school, Mrs. Thomas Stocks, told this writer that she went to 
school there. Mrs. Stocks died more than thirty years ago at 
a ripe old age. Many of the wealthier families had private tu¬ 
tors for their children. 

In 1852, the Presbyterian Synod of Georgia, established 
a Female College in Greensboro under the name of the Greens¬ 
boro Female College. I have before me a photostat of the first 
diploma ever issued by this college. 

An act was passed by the Legislature to incorporate Brock¬ 
man Academy in Greene County in 1826. The Trustees were: 
William Read, Abraham Greer, John High, Joel Hunt, Wil¬ 
liam McWhorter, John S. Penn and James Brockman. (Ga. 
Laws, 1826) 


208 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


An account of examinations given at the Greensboro Male 
and Female Academy on June 9, 1821 was given in the Greens¬ 
boro Herald of May 25, 1882 when H. T. Lewis was the edi¬ 
tor and Judge Columbus Heard was the proprietor. The ex¬ 
aminations were in reading, writing, spelling, English Gram¬ 
mar, geography and the globe, Corderi and Select Veteri, Vir¬ 
gil, Virgil, and the Greek Testament, Latin, arithmetic, com¬ 
position, oratory, the Bible, Milton’s Paradise Lost, chemistry, 
painting and drawing. The school paper issued was called, 
“The Selector”. 

Many of these students were children of the Revolutionary 
Soldiers who settled here. The old Academy stood on Ceme¬ 
tery Hill where Rock Chapel now stands. These students be¬ 
came leaders in many areas and their descendants reside in 
nearly every state in the union. 

James Foster and Thomas Wingfield were trustees and 
visitors at the examinations were: Rev. Francis Cummins, Geo. 
G. Matthews, Henry Lewis and John Bethune. The act of the 
Academy was dated 1803, and the Rev. James Ray as Rector 
and Rev. Francis Cummins as the second Rector. 


Some of the names of the students are given although 
there is not a complete list. 


Bethune, Joseph 
Bethune, Mary 
Barnett, Ann 
Barsh, Ann C. 

Bilbro, Martha 
Billbro, Louisa 
Bilbro, Charles 
Colquitt, Benj. 
Catlett, Woodruff 
Dupree, Benj. 
Dawson, John , 
Dawson, Geo. A. 
Dawson, Thos. 
Dillard, Geo. 

Dillard, Lucy 
Greenwood, E. 
Greenwood, Wm. 
Grimes, Thos 
Grimes, Stirling 
Grimes, T. W. 
Greenwood, Eldridge 


Grimes, Henry 
Greene, Adeline 
Gresham, Nancy 
Gresham, Eliza 
Grimes, Charity 
Heard, Felix 
Heard, Minerva 
Harrison, Adeline 
Howard, John 
Johnson, Thos. 
Jones, Albert 
Jones, Sara T. 
Lawhon, John 
Lewis, James 
Lowe, John 
Love, Frances 
Lewis, Caroline 
Lewis, Mary 
Miller, John 
Mathews, Chas. 
Mounger, Mary 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


209 


Martin, Sara A. 

Mclntire, Catherine 

Miller, Mary 

Monford, Mary 

Nickelson, James 

Pierce, Geo. F. (The Bishop) 

Phillips, John 

Pierce, Julia 

Pinkard, Delilah 

Peek, Ann 

Robins, John 

Sanford, Daniel 

Sanford, Joseph 

Sanford, Eliza 


Sanford, Lucinda 
Torrence, Albert 
Todd, John 
Todd, Henry 
Todd, Affie 
Talbot, Julia 
Wingfield, Edward 
Wingfield, Antoninette 
Wells, Mary 
Woodruff, Mary 
Woodruff, Lucius 
Whnston, Sarah 
Wells, Wm. 

Wingfield, Lucy 


GREENE COUNTY’S POOR SCHOOL FUND 
1825 to 1838 

(By T. B. Rice) 

An old book found in the Greene County Ordinary’s 
office gives a list of poor children that were educated 
by the State of Georgia. This book lists the names of the 
children who received free schooling, what District they 
lived in and the names of their teachers. The total enroll¬ 
ment was 155 children between the ages of 8 and 17, the 
vast majority of whom were boys. 


The following letter shows where the money to pay 
the teachers came from: 


Greensboro, Ga. 1st April, 1830 

“His Excellency George Gilmar 

Sir, Please deliver to James S. Park, Es¬ 
quire,, or his order a warrant on the Treasurer 
for Nine Hundred Thirteen Dollars and four 
cents, on amount of the Poor School fund, due 
the County of Greene.” 

(Signed) Thomas 'W. Grimes 
Trustee Poor School Fund 

Greene County, Ga. 


210 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The record does not show whether the children were or¬ 
phans or children of parents who were too poor to send their 
children to school. However, at least one of the children whose 
names were mentioned, became Governor of one of our South¬ 
ern States; and many others became ancestors of men who be¬ 
came prominent in later years. This reflects credit both on the 
children and their teachers, and should be an incentive to every 
poor boy and girl. Back in those days there were no free 
schools; parents had to pay for the education of their children, 
meaning those who were able to pay, and some who were able, 
did not send their children to school but let them grow up in 
ignorance. Now, we have compulsory education. 


The names of the teachers who taught in Poor School. 

137th District Osborn Eley 

138th District Sugar Williams and David Day 

140th District James A. Thornton 

142nd District Thomas H. Lightfoot and Josiah Lewis 

143rd District Herndon Haralson and Henry Reid 

144th District Absolum Baugh 

145th District Wm. B. P. Adams 

147th District James L. Mitchell 

148th District David Day, and S. G. Jenkins 

160th District Peter Baugh, Lancelott Rood & L. Parker 

162nd District Joel Daws and Peter Baugh & A. M. 


Norris Joel Bruce also taught in this 
district. 

There seems to have been no female teachers, back in 
those days. Presumably, poor children went to regular pay 
schools and were taught along with other children whose par¬ 
ents were able to pay for their tuition, and that the above 
named teachers taught in practically all the Greene County 
schools, of that period. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


211 


HOW THE POOR SCHOOL FUND WAS 
ADMINISTERED 

The following letter was addressed to each Justice of the 
Peace in Greene County and makes it clear as to how poor 
children were looked after and put in school: 

“Greensboro, 25th January, 1830 
Esquires and Captains District No. 


Gentlemen: 

The laws of 1828 makes it the duty of the Justices of the Peace 
in the different Captains districts to procure and make a list of all 
children in their respective districts, together with their names, ages 
and sex-whose extreme indigence entitles them to a participation in 
the Poor School fund, and report them in writing to the Trustee for 
their County annually.” 

(Signed) Thomas W. Grimes, Trustee 


CAPTAINS AND ESQUIRES 

Three men functioned in each Militia District; the following 
gave their names: 


1 . 

Captain 

Joel E. Mercer 

Dist. 

137 

Wm. Daniel 

Harrison H. Watts 

Esquires 

2. 

Captain 

Wm. Newsome 

Dist 

138 

Abraham Yates 

John Armstrong 

Esquires 

3. 

Captain 

Geo. Crutchfield 

Dist. 

140 

Robert Newsome 
Augustine Green 

Esquires 

4. 

Captain 

Josiah Caldwell 

Dist. 

141 

Peter C. Johnson 
Alexander Perkins 

Esquires 

5. 

Captain 

Curtis Lewis 

Dist. 

143 

Jonas Fauche 

John Chew 

Esquires 

6. 


(missing) 

Dist. 

144 

James Moore 
Loahens Wright 

Esquires 

7. 

Captain 

Elishah Jarrell 

Dist. 

145 

Mathew Wingfield 
Franklin Martin 

Esquires 

8. 

Captain 

William Duncan 

Dist. 

146 

Young F. Gresham 
William Moncrief 

Esquires 

9. 

Captain 

John Branch 

Dist. 

147 

John C. Hall 

James M. Burton 

Esquires 

10. 

Captain 

John Ward 

Dist. 

148 

William Jones 

John Willson 

Esquires 

11. 

Captain 

Joseph Akins 

Dist. 

149 

William T. Walker 
John Park 

Esquires 

12. 

Captain 

Joseph B. Winston 

Dist. 

160 

Butt L. Cats 

John Copeland 

Esquires 



212 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


13. Captain William Winslett 


Dist. 161 George Hall 


Amasa Palmor 
Ephriam Bruce 
Wm. Bryan 


Esquires 


14. Captain Thomas J. Park 


15. Captain Cullen S. Cridel 

16. Captain John Hutchinson 


William Rowland 
Seaboro McMichael Esquires 


The prefix, Captain, meant a prominent man in the dis¬ 
trict; the suffix Esquire, meant a freeholder and a responsible 
man; and they were required to search out all school-age chil¬ 
dren whose parents were too poor to send their children to 
school, and all of them served without pay. 

In the year 1830 the Poor School fund amounted to $1,- 
602.64 and was deposited in The Branch Bank of Greensboro, 
of which, James S. Park was cashier. (The Greensboro Bank 
was a branch of the Georgia State Bank which stood on the 
corner of the lot that Mrs. Felix Boswell recently sold to Mr. 
James Boswell.) 

The only officer who received pay for handling the Poor 
School fund was Ordinary or Trustee, and he received 5% for 
handling the fund. 

One noteworthy item of expense is a charge of $7.00, the 
amount paid by the Trustee covering “the cost of a trip to 
Milledgeville after the funds.” 

In all probability, the Nine Hundred-Thirteen Dollars 
that Thomas W. Grimes sent to Milledgeville for, consisted of 
gold and silver coins. Paper money was issued by private banks 
and corporations, and much of it was looked upon with suspi- 
tion. For example, The Augusta Bridge Company floated a 
vast amount of paper money in 1816; this money passed at face 
value for some years and finally became worthless; other pri- 
a gamble. 

In order to protect themselves against loss, Guardians, 
Executors and Trustees described the money that they received 
from estates, giving the name of the bank that issued the 
money, etc. If the money that had been turned over to them 
became depreciated or worthless, they could not be required 
to be responsible for more than its actual value. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


213 



HlJl! khlll U* 

Thomas Stocks Institute. Greensboro Female College—1851. 






























214 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THE GREENSBORO FEMALE ACADEMY 

On May 21, 1851 there was a deed put on record in 
Greensboro showing that Henry Merrell deeded lot No. 212 
to the Trustees of the Greensboro Seminary, the consideration 
being $500.00 The Trustees named in the deed were: Francis 
H. Come, Francis Bowman, Josiah Davis, Henry Merrill, Ros¬ 
well Hurlbert, M. Saffold, J. L. Brown, Homer Hendee, Wm. 
C. Dawson, 'Wm. W. D. Weaver and B. Johnson. The lot was 
bounded by Broad, Green, Chestnut, and Laurel Streets and is 
now owned by Judge James B. Park. 

The first President of the College was Dr. I. S. K. Axon, 
(father of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson) and the first 
Pres, of the Board of Trustees was, Francis Beeman. One of 
the first if not the first diploma issued by this college reads: 

Greensboro Female College 
(Picture of the college) 

Founded by the Synod of Georgia 
Opened January 12, 1852 

That our daughters may be as corner stones polished af¬ 
ter the similitude of a Palace. (Psalm 111-12.) 

The Trustees and Faculty of Greensboro Female College 
in testimony of correct deportment and proficiency in the sev¬ 
eral branches of Science and Literature as taught in this in¬ 
stitution, Award to Miss Ann Octavia Nickelson, this diploma 
and declare her entitled to the highest honors of this institution. 

Given at Greensboro, Ga. July 20, 1854. 

Signed: I. S. K. Axon, Pres, of the College Francis Bow¬ 
man, Pres, of the Board of Trustees. 

On a program of the first concert given by the students 
of the college there were fifteen selections of vocal and instru¬ 
mental music given. The program was on Friday evening Nov. 
12, 1852 and the names of the following students appear: 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


215 


Misses O. and J. Nickelson, M. Janes, M. McMahon, Kate 
Beeman, Annie R. Bowman, E. Zimmerman, E. Smith, Violet 
B. Ellington, Mary J. Crooks, M. J. Waddell, Emma Hines, 
Sarah Threwatts. 

Dr. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wil¬ 
son, preached the commencement sermon for this Academy 
in 1858, and it would not require a great stretch of the imagi¬ 
nation to say that little Thomas Woodrow accompanied his 
father to Greensboro and flirted with Ellen Axon. 

Dr. Wilson’s text was taken from First Corinthians 14:34 
“Let your women keep silence in the church.” Dr. Rice had a 
copy of this sermon and presented it to Mrs. William Gibbs 
McAdoo (Pres. Wilson’s daughter) while she was on a visit 
to Georgia with her husband. 

Mrs. Thos. E. Winn, nee Minnie Linton has an old pam¬ 
phlet with the following information: Greensboro Female Col¬ 
lege, founded by the Synod of Ga. A. D. 1851. Faculty: Rev. 
Homer Hendee, Pres, and Prof, of Rhetoric, Logic, Mental 
Philosophy, and Natural Sciences, Rev. R. A. Houston, Pastor 
of Pres. Church, Prof. Mathematics, Astromony, Moral Phi¬ 
losophy, and Evid. of Christianity. Miss Julia Thompson, 
Teacher of English Branches, French, Drawing and Painting. 
Mr. Issac Holt, Prof, of Vocal and Instrumental Music. Mrs. 

L. R. Ioyt, Assistant Teacher of Music. Miss-- 

Teacher of Preparatory Department 


This institution is highly regarded by numerous patrons 
in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, etc, etc. 

College Expenses, including contingencies, per session: 


Primary Division 

$ 9.00 

Drawing and Painting 

12.50 

Academic 

16.50 

Music on piano and use of 


r ollegiate 

25.00 

same 

27.50 

French Language 

10.00 

Music on guitar 

21.00 


No charge for lessons in Latin and singing in classes. 


Signed: F. C. Fuller, Secretary. 



216 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Published by order of Resident Board, Greensboro, Ga., July 12, 1860. 
Planters Weekly, Printers, Greensboro, Ga. Synod’s Board of Trustees: John 
Cunningham, Pres. 

James F. Foster, M.D. 

F. C. Fuller, Esq. 

James L. Brown, Esq. 

David Howell 
Josiah Davis 
James A. Nisbet 
W. W. D. Weaver 
Y. P. King, Esq. 

John A. Miller 
W. B. Johnson 

The faculty in 1854 had these names on the list: Dr. I. 
S. K. Axon, Pres., Dr. Francis Bowman, Dr. Francis Gold¬ 
ing, Dr. Nathan Hoyt, Dr. Joseph Styles, Miss Ann Maria 
Lyman, Miss Louisa M. Alcott. This was a very distinguish¬ 
ed faculty and many interesting chapters could be written on 
any one of the members. Dr. Axon was a noted minister and 
educator and the father of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. 
Dr. Frances and Miss Alcott were both noted authors whose 
stories are still widely read. Ann Maria Lyman came from 
Northampton, Mass, and was the mother of Mrs. James B. 
Park and Mrs. Henry T. Lewis. 

The beginning of the War between the States closed the 
doors of this thriving institution as a college and it was used 
as a school for children until it was taken over by the Confede¬ 
rate government and used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. 
This day was about January 1865 and every store building and 
church in Greensboro was filled with the wounded and dying 
soldiers. 

Soon after the surrender, Greensboro was full of Yankees, 
and stealing and plundering went on for some time. It was 
1872 before the school reopened and the headmaster was John 
Seals who published the old “Temperance Banner” at Penfield, 
and later moved to Atlanta. 

A Northern man and his wife by name of Haile tried the 
school for a while and finally on Dec. 14, 1872 the famous 
old Presbyterian College burned to the ground, and it is said 


O. P. Daniel 
Robert Campbell 
Rev. John W. Reid 
Rev. I. S. K. Axon, D.D. 
Rev. N. Hoyt, D.D. 

Rev. S. K. Talmadge, D.D. 
Rev. F. Bowman, D.D. 

Rev. C. P. Beeman, D.D. 
Rev. Homer Hendee, Ex. Of. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


217 


it was of incinerary origin. The lot was sold to A. S. Seals 
where he built a home, later Judge James B. Parks bought it. 

We have always heard that the idea of the college being 
erected originated in the mind of that old Revolutionary sol¬ 
dier, Dr. Francis Cummins who was a delegate to both the 
Mecklinburg Declaration and the U. S. A. Declaration in 1776. 
He taught Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory) in North Caro¬ 
lina. He came to Greene County soon after it was organized 
in 1786 and was pastor of the old Bethany Presbyterian church 
in Greensboro and taught school in the old Union Academy 
on cemetery hill. Union services were held in the old Siloam 
Meeting House that stood near the old Academy the only 
building there at that time in which religious services were 
held. Dr. Cummins died in Greensboro on February 22, 1852 
and was buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Other schools were the Brockman United Academy, in¬ 
corporated in 1826 which was the first after the Greensboro 
Academy of 1786. Lafayette Hall Academy was opened in 
1827, and Thornton Academy in 1831 and as said before the 
White Plains Academy in 1834. 

Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 in Germantown, Pa. 
where her father kept a school for two years then they moved 
to Concord 20 miles from Boston. Her first successful book, 
“Little Women”, written about 1868 has probably been read 
by more girls than any book ever written. Louisa taught school 
and it is said she taught in the Greensboro Academy about 
1850, and that she came South with Miss Ann Maria Lyman 
who later married Joel Poulain and had two daughters, Mrs. 
James B. Park and Mrs. Henry T. Lewis. Louisa May Alcott 
went back to Boston, Mass, where she taught, wrote and nurs¬ 
ed the wounded Union soldiers and served her family. Miss 
Alcott never married and died March 6, 1888. Her books are 
full of youth’s warmth and laughter and will live on. 

The Greensboro Female College flourished for some 
years, and continued to function until just before the close of 
the War Between the States. I have before me a letter written 


218 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


by Dr. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wilson, 
dated “Augusta, Ga., Dec. 28, 1863, protesting against the 
Confederate Government taking over the Female College in 
Greensboro for Hospital purposes. This letter was written to 
Mr. Cunningham, and reads in part: “Tell them that this is 
now almost the only school left to this part of the state, and 
that there are other buildings that might be used for hospi¬ 
tals. For instance, the old Methodist church will hold nearly as 
many as the College, and be there no warehouses that can be 
occupied?” 

Tradition says, Louisa M. Alcott was once a teacher in 
the Greensboro Female College, but there is no documentary 
evidence to prove it. However, Mrs. Ella Sanford Ferrell, wife 
of the owner of the famous “Ferrell Gardens” of LaGrange, 
Ga., and near relative of Dr. S. V. Sanford, Chancellor of the 
University of Georgia, told on many occasions, that Miss Al¬ 
cott was her teacher while she attended the Greensboro Female 
College. It is a known fact that, there were several teachers 
in this college from the New England States. The only 
account of the marriage of Miss Lyman to Mr. Poulain known 
to exist, is a letter written by Mrs. Samuel Davis of Greens¬ 
boro, to her daughter, Mrs. Thomas J. Bowen, mother of Mrs. 
T. B. Rice, who was a missionary to Africa. Mrs. Bowen pre¬ 
served these letters and brought them back when she returned 
home after a four year stay in Africa. These letters are among 
the sacred treasures of her daughter. 

Judging from the statement of Mrs. C. C. Vincent of 
Greensboro, who was one of the students in January 1864, 
this school had ceased to function as a Female College. He 
says: “On January 1, 1865, Mr. John Seals opened a mixed 
school in the old College building, and I was one of his pupils. 
After the school had been running two days, it was taken over 
as a Hospital, and as wounded soldiers were brought in from 
Atlanta, Newnan, Jonesboro and other points where heavy 
fighting was going on. When the College building was filled, 
other buildings were pressed into service until every church 
store-house, warehouse, and every other available place was 
filled.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


219 


WILLIAM H. SEWARD TAUGHT IN GREENSBORO 

William H. Seward, once governor of New York State 
United States Senator and Secretary of State in Pres. Lincoln’s 
cabinet was born in N. Y. in 1801. While attending Union Col¬ 
lege in the fall of 1821 he had a disagreement with his father 
and left college and sailed for Savannah, Ga. He couldn’t find 
work in Savannah so he went to Augusta. 

He did not find work in Augusta and by now had no 
money, and was very discouraged. With only the clothes he 
wore he walked to Mt. Zion in Hancock County where the 
Beeman’s, Gildersleeves and other Northern friends lived. He 
learned from them that a new Academy was to be opened and 
his friends, newly found as they were, put him to bed, pressed 
his clothes, fed him and loaned him a buggy and horse to go to 
Putnam County where he secured a job teaching at the Union 
Academy. 

This Academy received its charter Dec. 15, 1821 and the 
first Board of Trustees were: Iddo Ellis, William Walker, 
William Turner, William E. Adams, Zaccheus Butler and 
Hardy Pace. After teaching here for a time Seward went to 
Greensboro to teach. Here he boarded in one of the best homes 
and freely mingled with the belles and beaux of the town. He 
had a long illness, which was probably typhoid fever and friends 
here nursed him and cared for him until health was restored. 

Seward’s father found out that his son was in Greensboro 
and prevailed on him to return to Union College in N. Y. where 
he completed his college work. It is said that after William H. 
Seward became a statesman and was nationally known he came 
back on a visit to Putnam and Greene Counties and visited the 
friends he had there. Two men especially were mentioned, Ma¬ 
jor Frederick Ward and Major Crafton who lived in Putnam 
at one time, and the Claytons in Greene Co. 

There were many early schools in Greene County and the 
following list is given and the years in which they were incor- 


220 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


porated by the Georgia Legislature. Greene Co. Academy, 
1786, Brockman United Academy 1826, Lafayette Hall, 1827, 
Thormton Academy, 1827, White Plains Academy, 1831, Pen- 
field Female Seminary, 1834, Buena Vista Academy, 1850, 
Union Male and Female Academy, 1859, Mercer Institute 1833 
and Greensboro Female Academy chartered in 1852. 

OTHER SCHOOLS 

In 1790, the entire population of Greene County was 
5,405; and in 1800, it had practically doubled, 10,761. Adiel 
Sherwood’s Gazetteer, written in 1827, and Rev. George 
White’s “Historical Collections of Georgia” have little to say 
about the schools in Greene County, although, Sherwood does 
mention the fact that, Greensboro had a Female Academy and 
a Male Academy. The fourth edition of his Gazetteer publish¬ 
ed in 1860, mentions Penfield, Woodville, Greensboro, Union 
Point, and White Plains, but makes no reference to schools 
other than those in Greensboro and Penfield. This is probably 
due to the fact that, when he wrote the first edition, he was 
pastor of the Greensboro Baptist Church, and was familiar 
with the schools in the county. Whereas, in 1860, when the 
last edition was published, he was not familiar with the changes 
that had taken place after he left, and used his old manuscript 
of 1827. Unquestionably, all of the towns and villages mention¬ 
ed by both Sherwood and White had schools long before their 
histories were written, but White Plains, Greensboro, and Pen- 
field seem to be the only places where their early school histor¬ 
ies were preserved. 

Schools were established at Bethany, Smyrna-Siloam, Pub¬ 
lic Square, Bairds, Woodville, Scull Shoals, Liberty, Ridge 
Grove, Oakland, Walkers and many other places soon after 
1800; and many private schools were conducted in the homes 
of wealthy farmers throughout the county. Between 1880 and 
1920, neighborhood schools sprang up in all parts of the 
county and continued to function until good roads and motor- 
buses made consolidated schools possible. The process of break¬ 
ing up neighborhood schools and transporting the children to 
more commodious and better equipped schools, brought about 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


221 


many community feuds; but when they began to realize that 
it meant better school advantages for their children, opposi¬ 
tion to the plan soon died out. 

Union Point has had a splendid public school system for 
many years and ranks second in enrollment. Greensboro, Union 
Point, Siloam, Woodville, and White Plains all have modern 
public school buldings, while all of the schools in the county 
have been enlarged and improved. The enrollment of the white 
schools of the county is as follows: Greensboro, 414; Union 
Point, 331; White Plains, 128; Siloam, 121; Woodville, 140; 
Penfield, 97; Greshamville, 159; Meadow Crest, 38; Veazey, 
41; Cedar Grove, 40; Beuna Vista, 17; Wrayswood, 20; Sibley, 
31; Greene county children living near the county line, and going 
to school in adjoining counties, 22; making a total enrollment 
of 1599 white pupils in the county. (In 1945) 

COLORED SCHOOLS 

The names, locations, and number of pupils enrolled in 
the colored schools of Greene County in 1947 are as follows: 

Greensboro, 159; Union Point, 84; White Plains, 49; 
Siloam, 71; Woodville, 46; Spring Creek, 17; Mt. Pleasant, 
21; Macedonia, 30; Oak Grove, 20; Antioch, 28; Hutchison 
Grove, 26; Little Creek, 35; East Over, 70; Rock Hill, 17; 
Pierce’s Chapel, 23; St. Mary’s 21; Finley’s Chapel, 41; Mt. 
Olive, 15; Wrayswood, 20; Walnut Grove, 26; Copelan’s 
Grove, 30; Brown’s Chapel, 24; Public Square, 25; Boswell’s 
Chapel, 22; Flat Rock, 20; Penfield, 32; Parson’s, 10; Pine 
Grove, 12; Mt. Calvary, 17; Wrightsville, 31; County Line, 
18 ; Thompson’s Grove, 17; Bethabara, 5 ; Andrew’s Grove, Z5 ; 
Caldwell’s Grove, 33; Moore’s Grove, 18; New Bethel, 62; 
Randle’s Grove, 16; St. Paul, 31; Springfield, 23; Sander’s 
Chap’l, 15. The above figures represent the average attendance, 
makes at total of 1221, but the total enrollment is 1661. 

From the above, it will be noted that the colored schools 
have not been consolidated. However, there are a number of 
buses that transport the more advanced pupils to the various 
High schools for colored pupils. (1947) (End) 


222 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The Bulletin of the University of Georgia gives the record 
of the accredited schools of the State, the number of High- 
School graduates entering Georgia Colleges, and their per¬ 
centages made in their Freshman year. The following table is 
from the Greensboro High School, and covers a period of ten 
years: 

Graduates entering College 107; 7 per cent A 39 percent 
B, 37 per cent C, 14 per cent D, 3 per cent E & F. 

This is truly a remarkable record and is excelled by one 
school only in the State, and that is, the Girls High School 
of Atlanta. That school has a record of only 2 per cen. failures. 

The Union Point High School is also on the accredited list 
and has a fine record, however, this school has not been on 
the list long, and shows only 7 pupils entering Colleges. 

The first unit of the present school system of Greensboro 
was built in 1908, and the marble tablet in the wall just to the 
right of the entrance reads as follows: J. H. Gheesling, Mayor; 
Alderman, T. B. Rice, B. F. McWhorther, J. B. Park. E. G. 
Pennington, J. H. McWhorter, Clerk; Architects, C. G. Gads¬ 
den, Sayer & Co., Contractors, John F. Grandy & Son. 

The second unit, which is now the Grammar School, was 
built in 1925, and the marble tablet in the walls gives this in¬ 
formation: John S. Callaway, Mayor; Aldermen; W. H. 
Childs, Dr. j. F. Hunter, T. H. McGibbony, F. A. Perkins, C. 
E. Robinson, J. G. Oliver. Superintendent of Schools, C. C. 
Wills. 

The Union Point Public School building was erected soon 
after the first unit of the Greensboro High School was erected 
1908 or 1909, and was built along the same lines as the 
Greensboro building, and I think, by the same architect and 
contractor. Both Siloam and White Plains erected new brick 
school buildings soon after Greensboro and Union Point; and 
Woodville erected a new modern brick school building in 1933. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


223 


HISTORY OF THE WHITE PLAINS (GA.) SCHOOL 
(By Miss Helen Kilpatrick) 

Note: The following History of the White Plains School was written by 
Miss Helen Kilpatrick and read at the Centennial Celebration that 
was observed in the present White Plains School Building in May, 
1933. It was preserved by Mrs. Paul Jernigan, of White Plains, and 
copied by T. B. Rice, Historian for Greene County, at the request 
of Dr. William H. Kilpatrick, brother of the author, and a former 
student of this historic school. 

“The earliest known record of the White Plains School 
is a deed for four acres of land, lying in the county of Greene 
and adjoining the Baptist Church lot, given by Richard Baugh 
of Hancock County to the trustees of the White Plains Aca¬ 
demy Tune 14, 1833. The trustees named are, Walker Lewis, 
Miles Young, Michael Eley, Joshua Caldwell, Robt. H. Mapp 
and Zacheus Wright. The witnesses to the deed were, Zebu- 
lun Wright, James Mapp and S. Johnson. The deed was re¬ 
corded in Greensboro June 14, 1834. 

Nearly a year later, on Dec. 19, 1834 an act to incorpor¬ 
ate the White Plains Academy in the county of Greene, and 
to appoint trustees for the same was passed by the Legislature, 
as follows: 

“AN ACT to incorporate the White Plains Academy, in the county 
of Greene, and appoint trustees for the same.” 

Sec. 5 And be it further enacted, That the academy in the county of Greene, 
now known as the White Plains, shall hereafter be known and styled 
by that name; and that Walker Lewis, Miles Young, Samuel 
Jones, Zacheus Wright, Zebulon Wright, Edward D. Alfriend, John 
Bonner, and Hugh Moore, and the'ir successors in office, be, and 
are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name 
and style of “The Trustees of the White Plains Academy, in the 
county of Greene; and as such shall be capable and liable in law to sue 
and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and shall be authorized to make 
such by-laws and regulations as may be necessary for the govern¬ 
ment of said academy, provided such by-laws and ^regulations are 
not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State; and for 
that purpose may have and use a common seal, appoint such officers 
as they may think proper, and remove from office for improper con¬ 
duct or neglect of duty.” 

Sec. 6 And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall be capable of 
accepting and brine invested with all manner of property, real and 
personal, all donations, grants, privileges, and immunities whatso¬ 
ever, which may belong to said institution, or may hereafter be con- 


224 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


veyed or. transferee! to them or their successors in office, to have and 
to hold the same for the proper use, benefit, and behoof of said 
academy.” 

Sec. 7 And be it further enacted, That when any vacancy may happen by 
refusal of any of. said trustees to act, or by death, resignation, or 
otherwise of the trustees of said academy; the survivors, or majority 
of them, shall fill the same in such manner as may be pointed out 
in the by-laws and regulations of the trustees aforesaid.” 

(Signed) Thomas Glascock, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Jesse Wood, 

President of the Senate. 

Assented to, 19th December, 1834. 

Wilson Lumpkin, Governor. 


These two are the only early records of our school known 
and its history other than given in these papers have been hand¬ 
ed down by the founders of the school and others living at that 
time to their children, and by them to later generations. 

Much of the information here given was gathered by 
the late Loyd Barrett who was principal of the school in 1927- 
8-9. 

A few words regarding the founders, whom they were and 
where they lived may be of interest. Richard Baugh, of Han¬ 
cock County, who donated the land for the school, built and 
lived in the house on the Greensboro-Sparta highway, known 
as the old Copeland home, now owned and occupied by Mr. 
Perry Edwards. Michael Eley lived at the Sam Marchman place 
and the Baptist Church records show that he was ordained a 
deacon in that church in 1829. 

Joshua Caldwell, according to the old minutes was a mem¬ 
ber of the White Plains Baptist Church from 1831 to 1835. 
Nothing more is known of him. 

We do not know exactly who Robert Mapp was. He was 
probably the father of the late Jasper Mapp and Mrs. Rebec¬ 
ca Mapp Hilsman, but as the family Bible and one other re¬ 
cord give him as Housand Mapp, he cannot be positively iden¬ 
tified as Robin H. Mapp. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


225 


The other three trustees mentioned in the deed were also 
trustees appointed the next year by the Legislature. They 
were Walker Lewis, Miles Young and Zacheus Wright. Walk¬ 
er Lewis came from Virginia in the year 1800 and was the 
founder of the well known Lewis family of Greene County. 
Among his descendents have been many of the most prominent 
citizens of the county, including the late Judge Henry T. Lewis 
and his brother Judge Graham Lewis. He lived in what is 
known as the Walker Lewis house, which is still standing on 
the farm which he settled and cultivated for sixty years and 
now owned by his grandson Judge Graham Lewis. He died 
in 1860 and is buried in the Lewis grave yard nearby. 

No record could be found of Miles Young and nothing 
is known of him. 

Zebulon Wright and Wiley Wright were sons of Zebulon 
Wright. The names of all three of these trustees appear on the 
roll of the White Plains Methodist Church in 1838 and the 
records show that they were prominent in church work. 

Zebulon Wright lived at the place known as the Alex 
Smith place, now owned by Mrs. M. E. Sisk of Greensboro. 

Zebulon Wright lived on what was latter called the Slack 
place, near the “Mill Hole” which was the site of Wright’s 
Mill. 

Wiley Wright lived a little more than a mile west of 
White Plains at Wright’s Spring in a large house that was 
burned in the 79’s The Wright family graveyard is on this 
place 

The name of Samuel Jones is on the list of members of 
the Methodist Church in 1838, but does not appear again. He 
is said to have been a preacher. 

Edward D. Alfrend was a well known physician and liv¬ 
ed in the Alfriend home which stood near the site of Mr. H. C. 
Stewart’s home. 

John Bonner was a large land owner and lived on the 
place now owned by Mr. Ben O’Rear, in a house which is 
still standing. 


226 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Of Hugh Moore there is no record, and no one could be 
found who knew anything about him. 

THE BUILDINGS 

Nothing certain is known of the first building; Mr. Bar¬ 
rett says in a little historical sketch of the school which ap¬ 
peared in the school paper Oct. 15, 1927: “The first building 
stood about one hundred yards in front of the present school. 
Its doors were opened to pupils in the fall of 1832, the first 
exhibition being held on June 20, 1833.” A thorough search 
has failed to show where Mr. Barrett obtained this informa¬ 
tion. Many of the older attendents of the school now living 
have been questioned but none know anything of this building. 
There is a tradition mentioned by a few that the main room 
of the old Alfrend house was the first used. This was a large 
room of squared logs stood near the site of Mr. Stewart’s 
barn. It was last owned by Mr. Peter M. Moss and was torn 
down in 1886. This tradition may be confused with what has 
been told of Dr. 'Will Alfrend’s office which stood between 
the Baptist Church and Dr. Alfrend’s home now owned by the 
Cooks. It is said that this building was used for a school 
house while the second school building was being erected. This 
office was later moved next to the Masonic Building on Main 
street and was burned in 1893. 

The second building was quite imposing for so small a 
village as White Plains. It was a large two story building 
with a chimney at each end and stood where the present tennis 
court is. It is not known when this building was erected, cer¬ 
tainly not earlier than 1835, and not later than 1840, though 
some say as late as 1848. The minutes of the Baptist Church 
record that the trustee’s were granted the use of the church 
building in 1865 and 1866 while the school building was under¬ 
going repairs and it has often been said that small boys in the 
70’s slipped out through holes in the floor when the teacher’s 
back was turned. This could hardly be true of a building less 
than 30 years old. 

The old bell, which has been used in all three of the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


227 


buildings bears the inscription “E Force N. York 1835-but 
this could scarcely have any bearing on the date of the con¬ 
struction of the second building. At first there was a partition 
on the lower floor. The west end was cut off for a music room 
and library. The other room was used for the smaller chil¬ 
dren while the principal and his assistant taught the older pupils 
upstairs in one large room which was used as an auditorium. 
The building was heated by a large fire-place on each floor. 
This second building was used until 1880 when it was torn down 
and the best of the lumber with new material was used to erect 
the third building. 

The third building was one large room with a stage and 
stood a little back of the site of the present building. The house 
was not finished in time for the opening of the spring term in 
1880 and a vacant store was used until the building was com¬ 
pleted in the early spring. Later there were two wings added 
one on each side. 

In 1917 the school had grown so that there was need of 
a larger building and better equipment. The funds for the 
former buildings had been raised by public subscription, but 
it was out of the question to so raise the amount necessary 
for a modern building and after much discussion and planning 
it was decided to deed the school property to the County Board 
of Education; to incorporate the White Plains School Dis¬ 
trict and to vote on a bond issue for a building. The bond elec¬ 
tion was carried with only a few dissenting votes, on June 29, 
1917 and the following year the present brick building was fin¬ 
ished in time for the fall term September 1918. 

During the hundred years of its existence the school has 
had as many as forty-two principals and probably several more. 
The first principal given on Mr. Barrett’s list, was J. L. Thom¬ 
as 1832-1833. From 33 to 46 there is a skip. It is not known 
whether Mr. Thomas continued as principal for these thirteen 
years, or whether there were other principals. Beginning again 
with 1846 we have a complete list of principals down to the 
present. Nothing further is known of Mr. J. L. Thomas but 
something is remembered of most of the others though many 
of them were there only one year. Of. Mr. Stewart, who was 


228 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


principal in 46 it is said. “He was very strict.” In after years 
when some boy was particularly hard to manage, som one 
would say, “We need Mr. Stewart behind him.” 

Henry C. Ware, was a resident of White Plains, a mer¬ 
chant highly thought of, public spirited, clerk of the Methodist 
Church. 

James Thornton, 1848, was from Union Point, a brother 
of Rev. Vincent Thornton, pastor of the White Plains Baptist 
Church in the early 50’s. 

Richard Asbury, 1849-1850, probably from Greene Coun¬ 
ty has been described as “a mighty good man.” He was later 
part owner and president of Monroe Female College, now 
Bessie Tift College. 

O. Pinkerton, of Bairdstown in 1851 was followed by 
Cyrus Barrow in ’52. 

In 1850 and 1855 the principal was Isaac D. Moore who 
later for many years was the faithful physician in White 
Plains and vicinity. 

Between these years, in 1854, the school was taught by 
James H. Kilpatrick, of Richmond County, who was the next 
year called as pastor to the White Plains Baptist Church which 
he served for more than fifty-three years. 

1856 came one who is well remembered by some of the 
oldest ones present, J. D. Mathews. Serving with him in 1858 
as co-principal and in 1859 and 1860 alone was Vincent T. 
Sanford. Mr. Sanford later taught in several nearby towns, 
Penfield, Crawfordville and Woodville, and was well known 
throughout the state. 

In 1861 the school was taught by Alonzo Howell, a native 
of White Plains, a former graduate of the school and a gra¬ 
duate of Mercer University. He was followed in 1862 by Wil¬ 
liam Cooper, a Baptist preacher. In 1863, because of the scar¬ 
city of men due to the war, the school had its first woman 
principal, Mrs. Emma B. Howell, who had earlier taught music 
in the school. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


229 


In 1864 Mr. Ellington, of whom nothing more is known, 
was principal. 

In 1865, Dr. J. M. Howell who had returned from three 
years of service in the Confederate Army, was elected prin¬ 
cipal and taught through this year and the next when he re¬ 
signed and moved away. 

In 1867 came Redmond Forrester who was principal 
through 1870. Mr. Forrester was very popular and is still 
remembered and spoken of by many of the older citizens of 
White Plains. 

In 1871 Dr. Howell again was elected principal and held 
the position until 1880 when he was appointed County School 
Commissioner for two terms in succession of four years each. 
He was then ineligible to hold the position of Principal and his 
wife Mrs. Emma B. Howell was made principal a second time. 
In 1887, the school observed the first Georgia Arbor Day, and 
the large oaks in front of the building were planted. A number 
of trees were set out but only those of Dr. Howell, Will M. 
Grant, J. Howell Mapp, William Heard Kilpatrick, Charles 
Sterling Jernigan and John Pardee lived. It seems fitting that 
Dr. Howell’s tree should have out grown the others, and it 
stands today as a memorial to him who spent so many of his 
best years in the service of the school. During the twenty years 
of Dr. Howell’s connection with the school and for many years 
after, Mrs. Howell served as music teacher, and while it would 
be impossible to mention all the music teachers who taught dur¬ 
ing the hundred years of the school’s existence, Mrs. Howell’s 
music and her school entertainments held so large a part in the 
life of the school and its pupils, that this history would be incom¬ 
plete without some mention of her as music teacher. 

In 1889 J. E. Purks, a former pupil and brother of our 
present County School Superintendent was principal. He showed 
the same energy in his teaching at White Plains that has charac¬ 
terized his work throughout his career and has made him well 
known over the state. 

After four years Mr. Purks resigned to be followed by 
H. H. Little of Sparta in 1893. 1894-1895 the principal was 


230 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


A. A. Rose. 1895-1896 W. S. Johns, of Social Circle, was prin¬ 
cipal. He is now deputy-governor of the Federal Reserve Bank, 
of Atlanta. 1896-1897 W. F. Perry was principal. The school 
was graded for the first time this year. 

1877-1898-W. F. Glenn was principal. 1898-1900-Guy 
Overton of Union Point was principal. 1900-1902 M. H. 
Moore, of White Plains, a former pupil and son of Dr. I. D. 
Moore a former principal, was principal. 1903-1906, J. E. 
Wright; 1906-1907 R. T. Adderhold; 1907-1909 T. W. Mc¬ 
Whorter; 1909-1910 J. E. Wright was second time principal; 
1910-1911 W. J. Noyes; 1911-1912 Horace Sandifer; 1912- 
1914 O. A. Davis; 1914-1915 S. J. Bowman; 1915-1917 J. 
W. Boyd; 1917-1918 there were three principals Mr. Fulmer 
who taught a short time and resigned to be followed by a 
Mr. Burns who stayed only a short time. The year was finish¬ 
ed by Rev. N. A. White, pastor of the Methodist Church. 

In 1918, the school elected a woman principal, Mrs. Estelle 
Wright (wife of a former principal, J. E. Wright) who had 
before served as assistant. She managed the school very effi¬ 
ciently and successfully for five years at the end of which time 
she resigned and was followed in 1923-1924 by Luther C. Still, 
of Conyers. 1924-1925 Raymond E. Walker; 1925-1926 J. 
Groves Colbert. In 1926 Loyd Barrett, of Sparta, was elected 
principal three years and was greatly loved by his teachers and 
pupils. It was he who was first interested in the history of the 
school and planned the celebration of its hundredth anniversary. 

In 1929 Mr. Barrett resigned and was followed by our 
present efficient principal, Mr. F. S. Cherry who has just been 
re-elected after serving four years. (1934) 

TRADITIONS 

Several traditions connected with the school which are 
often mentioned should receive some notice. First, the right 
of the school to use water from the spring now owned by Mr. 
H. C. Stewart. This is a very persistant tradition and there 
is probably foundation for it, but there is no mention made 
of it in any deed on record that has been found. The spring 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


231 


is very near the line of the original school lot and it may pos¬ 
sibly have been on the lot. 

Second; The majority of the trustees must be Baptists 
because, according to agreement, more money was subscribed 
for the school by Baptists. There is no mention of this in any 
record, but the fact that it was absent until the school property 
was deeded to the County Board of Education would seem 
proof that the tradition is based on fact. 

Many have asked when the school’s name changed from 
the White Plains Academy to Dawson Institute in honor of 
Judge William C. Dawson of Greensboro, Ga., as early as 
1858 when the Baptist Church minutes record that the trus¬ 
tees of Dawson Institute asked permission to extend a string 
of palings on the church lot so as to inclose the school lot. 
There is, however, no record that the name was ever legally 
changed until the County Board of Education took over the 
property in 1917 when it was changed to the White Plains 
District School, legally the White Plains Public School, but 
usually called White Plains Junior High. 

It is an interesting fact that after one hundred years 
several of the founders are still represented in our school by 
their descendants. Our County School Superintendent, Mr. 
W. A. Purks, is a descendent of Zebulon Wright, Mr. T. C. 
Moore, a member of the present board of trustees is a des¬ 
cendent of Michael Eley. 

There are a number of pupils in school who are descendents 
of these founders and I take pleasure in presenting these chil¬ 
dren to the audience, Margery Moore, the great, great, great 
grand-daughter of Richard Baugh, who gave the land upon 
which these buildings described have stood. She is also a 
great, great, great granddaughter of Michael Eley. Other des¬ 
cendents of Michael Eley are Callie Eley, and Florrie Eley 
great, great, great grand-daughters and J. W. Eley, Jr. great, 
great, great grandson. Hugh Moore, Thomas Darby are great, 
great, great, grandsons. 

Nits, Edna, Mary, Keith and Billy Marchman are great, 
great, great grandchildren of Zebulon Wright while Mary 


232 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Louise King, Edna King, Allen King and Chase Tappan are 
descendents of three of the original, trustees; Walker Lewis, 
Zebulon Wright and Zacheus Wright. 

I now have the pleasure of presenting the oldest living 
person who attended the White Plains School, Mr. T. J. March- 
man (Uncle Fox Marchman of Siloam, age 91, and the young¬ 
est pupil in school at present Mr. Marchman’s great, great 
nephew, Billy Marchman, age 6. 


A LONG FORGOTTEN BENEFACTOR OF POOR 
CHILDREN 

(By T. B. Rice) 

On April 20, 1865, Gwyn Allison, an old bachelor, the 
son of a Revolutionary soldier and a first cousion of President 
Andrew Jackson, realizing that his end was near, called in his 
lawyer and dictated his will. 

Fortune had smiled on him and his fertile acres had yield¬ 
ed bountiful crops the proceeds of which had netted him around 
$35,000.00 His brothers were likewise successful farmers. 
That he was interestered in the welfare of the poor children of 
Greene County, is evidenced by his will, a paragraph from 
which appears on the tablet that was erected over his grave 
that had remained unmarked for seventy-five years. It reads 
as follows: 


GWYN ALLISON 
DIED IN 1865 

HE EDUCATED POOR CHILDREN 

“I give and bequeath to the Inferior Court of Greene 
County twenty thousand dollars the interest on 
which is to be used for the education of poor chil¬ 
dren belonging to Greene county; but no part of the 
principal is to be used for that purpose.” 

That he was loyal to the Southern Confederacy there can be 
no doubt. The inventory of his estate reveals the contents of his 
lock-box. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


233 


In gold 

$ 496.75 

In silver 

284.95 

In bills of the following banks. 

The Bank of the State of Ga. 

3355.00 

Georgia Railroad Bank 

2115.00 

Peoples Bank of South Carolina 

100.00 

Mechanics Bank of Augusta 

260.00 

Augusta Ins. & Banking Co. 

20.00 

Marine Bank, Savannah, Ga. 

270.00 

City Bank of Augusta 

120.00 

Bank of Hamburg, S. C. 

20.00 

Planters Bank of Savannah 

5.00 

Merchants & Planters, Savannah 

1.00 

Bank of Commerce of Savannah 

1.00 

Confederate Treasury notes 

3824.35 

Confederate Certificates 

1000.00 

Total 

11,994.05 

Notes aggregating 

21,000.77 

Other assets 

1,345.25 

Grand total 

34,340.07 


After deducting special bequests to three brothers, one 
nephew and bequests of $100.00 each to his male slaves, and 
$20.00 each to his women slaves (to be paid in silver), and 
making provision for winding up his estate, the net balance 
was $20,000.00. However, the Confederate notes and certifi¬ 
cates proved valueless and many of the bank bills greatly de¬ 
preciated in value, therefore, the actual value of what was 
turned over to the Inferior Court was considerably less than 
the stipulated amount. 

This money, or the income from it, was judiciously used 
to educate poor children up to the time that free schools were 
established in Georgia. After that, the income was used to 
augment the free school fund, and is still being used. Bank 
failures have taken their share of the original fund but there 
is still left the sum of $5,500.00. 



234 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“UNIVERSITY OF GA” 

An article that appeared in a recent issue of a daily paper 
under the heading: Georgia Prophet; quotes a Georgia pro¬ 
fessor, who is doing research work in the Congressional Li¬ 
brary at Washington. The professor quotes from an old Augus¬ 
ta Chronicle of December 12, 1789. An editorial from one who 
subscribed himself as “Alfred”, was commenting on the pro¬ 
posed establishment of a state university, Georgia having been 
the first to do that. Lands were set aside in what was then 
Greene, now Clark county, for university purposes. Alfred said 
the lands were of good quality and should, as the territory be¬ 
came more populous, to yield such revenue as would make the 
university “sure and permanent”. He inveighed against any 
division of them and wanted them preserved “whole and en¬ 
tire in order to answer the purposes of the university.” 

“Alfred’s” comments in the Augusta Chronicle back in 
1789, were fine, but the location of the proposed site for the 
university as described in the above article, is somewhat at 
variance with the Act dated February 3, 1786, as shown by 
Watkins’ Digest of Georgia laws, pages 322-323 which reads 
as follows: 

“Be it enacted by the representatives of the freemen of the State 
of Georgia, in general assembly met, and by the authority of the 
same, That a line shall be run north forty-five degrees, east, begin¬ 
ning on the Oconee river, thence up Ogeechee to the head of the 
main branch; from thence a direct course to the Cherokee corner; 
from thence to the south branch of Oconee, running into that river 
at or near Zachariah Phillips’s; thence down the Oconee to the begin¬ 
ning, including a tract of country that shall be called and known by 
the name of Greene county. 

Item 11. And be it further enacted, That the court house and 
goal shall be built, and the superior courts and annual elections held, 
at a town to be laid out on the college survey on Richland creek. 

Item III. And be it enacted, That the trustees of the university, 
or a majority of them, shall be and they are enpowered and requested 
to lay out, a town, which shall be known by the name of Greens¬ 
boro, on said survey; and after reserving a number of lots sufficient 
for public buildings, to sell and convey the remaining lots and land 
adjacent, to the purchaser or purchasers in fee simple: Provided 
only, that the money arising from the sale of said lots and lands ad¬ 
jacent, shall be applied to the sole purpose of promoting learning and 
science, and the quality of land to be laid off, does not exceed one 
thousand acres. 


Signed: William Gibbons, Speaker. 
Augusta, February 3, 1786. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


235 


This land is, and has always been in Greene county, and 
no part of Greene, was ever set aside to form Clarke as Clarke 
has never extended south of Cherokee corner. The land be¬ 
tween the present north boundary of Greene and Cherokee 
corner, was taken from Greene in 1793, to help form Oconee 
county. All of Clarke, was originally in Franklin county, which 
included a part of what is now Greene. Greene was formed 
out of land that was originally set apart for Franklin and 
Washington counties, and her original territory has been chip¬ 
ped off from time to time, to help create; Baldwin, Hancock, 
Taliaferro, Oglethorpe, Oconee and possibly a little strip of 
Clarke and Warren. That part of Greene that lies north of 
the headwaters of the Ogeechee river, was taken from Wilkes, 
and never was a part of Franklin or Washington. 

SELLING OFF THE COLLEGE LANDS 

Much has been said and written about the State Univer¬ 
sity, and why it was located in Franklin County—now Clark; 
but all historians seem to shy away from the fact that Greens¬ 
boro was originally laid out and designated as the site for the 
University. My authority for saying that Greensboro was the 
original site designated is Watkins’ Digest: of the Laws of 
Georgia, p. 322-323, paragraph 3. “And be it enacted, That 
the trustees of the University, or a majority of them, shall be 
and they are empowered and requested to lay out or cause to 
be laid out, a town, which shall be known by the name of 
GREENESBOROUGH, on said college survey; and after re¬ 
serving a number of lots sufficient for public buildings, to sell 
and convey the remaining lots and land adjacent, to the pur¬ 
chaser or purchasers in fee simple: Provided only, that the 
money arising from the sale of the said lots and lands adjacent, 
shall be applied to the sole purpose of promoting learning and 
science, and the quantity of land so to be laid off, does not 
exceed one thousand acres.” 

Signed—William Gibbons, Speaker 
Augusta, February 3, 1786. 


236 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


In persuance of the above Act, the trustees appointed Wil¬ 
liam Greer to survey and make a map of the town of Greens¬ 
boro, and lay off the land adjacent thereto into lots of 202 
acres each, so as to include within the survey 5,000 acres. 

The same Act that granted a charter for the State Univer¬ 
sity in January 1784, also endowed the university with 40,000 
acres of land of first quality; and when Greene was created out 
of a part of Washington County in 1786, 20,000 acres of this 
endowment was located in Greene. This was half of the entire 
endowment set aside for the support of the university; and 
would indicate that the Legislature thought very highly of 
Greene County land. 

The “Historical Sketch of the University of Georgia” by 
A. L. Hull, p. 10, plainly states that Greensboro was the orig¬ 
inal site designated; but the trustees were not unanimous, and 
“there seemed to have been great difficulty in getting a quorum 
of the board together to act.” “A meeting was appointed at 
the ‘Coffee House’ in Louisville, then the capital of the State, 
in January, 1799. It took three successive adjournments to get 
a quorum and then only seven were present.” 

Politics played an important part in the affairs of Geor¬ 
gia in those days as well as now, and the university was foot- 
balled around from 1786 to 1799, and a “touchdown” was 
finally made on November 28, 1800, and Cedar Shoals upon 
the north fork of the Oconee was finally agreed upon; and the 
site that had been set apart for the University at Greensboro 
was cut up into lots and sold by the trustees of the university, 
and this process continued until the whole 5,000 acres that had 
been set apart in and around Greensboro were sold. The streets 
of Greensboro were laid out by the surveyors; and when the 
lots were sold the deeds designated on what streets they faced, 
but the land in the streets were not sold, therefore, the streets 
of Greensboro still belong to the State of Georgia. This has 
proven advantageous to Greensboro in several instances where 
property owners had closed unused streets adjoining their 
property. And when it became necessary for the city to open up 
these “blind-ends,” litigation usually followed. In some in- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


237 


stances the “squatter” would claim prescriptive title; but as the 
statute of limitation does not apply to land owned by the State, 
the city of Greensboro invariably gained the case. 

As soon as the college lands were authorized to be sold, 
speculators got busy and bought the most desirable lots in large 
blocks and sold them at enormous profit; while others were 
satisfied with a more reasonable return on their investment. 

In 1816, Nicholas Lewis bought a good many lots from 
John Brown, president of the State University at that time. 
Among the lots bought by Mr. Lewis was the block that became 
the home of U. S. Senator Thomas W. Cobb, and later, the 
home of U. S. Senator William C. Dawson; and still later, the 
home of Philip B. Clayton, minister to Peru, and is now the 
home of Mr. Clayton’s granddaughter, Miss Maude Town¬ 
send. These are among the olcfest homes in Greensboro and 
have the distinction of having been the home of two United 
States Senators and one Minister to a South American Re¬ 
public. 

Nicholas Lewis also bought half of the block diagonally 
across the street from the Thomas W. Cobb home, and he 
later sold it to Samuel Davis in 1834. This lot however had 
been purchased and improved in anticipation of the University 
being located here; and the home that now stands at the corner 
of East and South streets was built in 1797, and is probably 
the oldest house now standing in Greensboro. It is now the 
home of Mrs. T. B. Rice. 


An Act to incorporate the Union Library Society of Greene county. 
Copied from Watkin’s Digest of Georgia Laws, Page 787. 

Whereas a library society has for a considerable time been established 
in said county, and known by the name of the Union Library Society 
Sect. 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the State of Georgia, in general assembly met, and is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Robert Grier, 
Samuel Harper, and Thomas Baldwin, are appointed, and their suc¬ 
cessors in office, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be a 
body corporate, by the name and style of the Union Library Society. 

Sect. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
said Robert Grier, Samuel Harper, and Thomas Baldwin, as afore¬ 
said, and their successors in office, shall be invested with all man¬ 
ner of property, both real and personal, and all donations, gifts, 


238 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


grants, heriditaments, privileges, and immunities, whatsoever, which 
may belong to said Union Library Society, at the time of passing 
this act, or which may hereafter be made, conveyed or transferred to 
them, or their successors in office, to have and to hold the same, 
for the proper use, benefit and behoof of said society. And also, 
that the said trustees, and their successors in office, shall be, and they 
are hereby declared to be capable of suing and being sued, im¬ 
pleading and being impleaded, and of using all necessary and legal 
steps for recovering or defending any property whatever, which the 
said society may claim or demand; and also for receiving the rents, 
issues, fines and profits of the same, or any part or parcel thereof. 

Sect. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
the trustees of said Union Library Society, shall hold their office 
for the term of one year, and that on the second Friday in January, 
in every year, after one thousand eight hundred one hundred and 
one (1801), the members of said society, of a majority thereof, shall 
convene at the place that may be appointed by the trustees afore¬ 
said, or their successors in office, and there between the hours of 
ten and four o’clock, elect from among the members of said society, 
three discreet and proper persons, as trustees of the same, and chose 
on the same day, all necessary officers for the said society, who 
shall hold their offices for the term of one year, as aforesaid, with 
the same powers and for the same purposes as above declared. 

Signed—David Meriwether, Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

David Emanuel. President of the Senate, 
Assented to December 1, 1800, Jas. Jackson, Governor. 


No citizen of Greene county has any knowledge of the 
above Historical Society. The probability is, that it ceased to 
function in the early 1800’s. And it is very probable that all 
books and other data that had been collected, was turned over 
to Mercer University, or some other school. 


MERCER 

Mercer Institute at Penfield 

Greene County’s most outstanding educational development 
was really Mercer Institute. In 1829 the Georgia Baptist Con¬ 
vention was meeting in Milledgeville and it was here that it 
was announced that Josiah Penfield from Savannah, a Baptist 
deacon, had bequeathed $2,500.00 to the Convention for edu¬ 
cational purposes provided that a like amount would be raised. 
In a matter of a few minutes the amount was raised by Jesse 
Mercer, Adiel Sherwood, Thomas Stocks, Wiliam Flournoy of 
Greene County and lesser donations by other Baptists present. 


239 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Top—Old Mercer University Chapel at Penfield. Center—Classroom build¬ 
ing of Mercer and Penfield Presbyterian Church. Bottom—Penfield 

cemetery. 








240 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Because of the wealth and influence of the Greene County 
Baptists it was decided to locate the school there. Those as¬ 
sisting in locating the school there were, Billington Sanders, 
Thomas Stocks, Absolem James and Jesse Armstrong, Seven 
miles north of Greensboro a tract of land was purchased con¬ 
taining 450 acres and named Penfeld in honor of Josiah Pen- 
field. 

Jesse Mercer, being the most outstanding Baptist and the 
largest financial supporter of the school was honored by having 
the school named for him. He gave $400,000 to the school. This 
money came to him through his second wife who had inherited 
the money from her Jewish husband, Captain Abram Simons, a 
Revolutionary soldier. 

In 1833, Mercer Institute came into existence at Penfield, 
in Greene County. Two log cabins formed the nucleus from 
which Mercer University sprang. As time went on, the institu¬ 
tion grew. “Keep Out Of Debt” was the watch-word of the 
Trustees. The Mt. Enon venture, the debts and woes of Colum¬ 
bian College, and many other instances in general, are set up as 
beacons of warning, while with urgency and emphasis the appeal 
was made “Owe no man anything.” 

The above paragraph was taken from the “Story of Geor¬ 
gia Baptists” by Ragsdale, p. 52. The ups and downs of Mer¬ 
cer from 1833 to 1871 at Penfield, and its removal to Macon 
in 1871, are graphically set fourth by Dr. Ragsdale in his 
“Story of Georgia Baptists”, therefore, it is not necessary to 
repeat it here. However, Mercer was moved over the protest 
of the people of Greene County, and it took years to heal the 
wound caused by its removal. After its removal, much of the 
property at Penfield was sold off to private individuals and 
was torn down. The old Chapel and some ten or twenty acres 
was given to the Penfield Baptist church. The President’s home 
was reserved as a pastorium, and this much of the original 
University property still belongs to the Penfield church. In the 
spring of 1933, Dr. Spright Dowell, then the President of Mer¬ 
cer University, came to Greensboro to confer with the people 
of Penfield and Greene County relative to making plans to 
hold the Mercer Centennial at Penfield. The fact was, the Pen- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


241 


field church had only a few members, and the great depression 
had so* impoverished the people that they did not feel able to 
entertain the multitude. Unwilling to give up the cherished plan, 
Dr. Dowell turned to this writer and asked him to work out 
some plan whereby the Centennial might be made a success. The 
writer accepted the challenge and went to work. All of the 
people of Penfield put their hands and hearts to task, forgetting 
creed and personal differences, and literally transformed Pen- 
field. People from all over the county and the Georgia Asso¬ 
ciation became interested, and the occasion was a great success. 
The entire faculty and many of the student body of the present 
Mercer attended. There were several of the Mercer students 
present who went to college at Penfield. Mr. H. T. Evans of 
Greensboro, was the only one whom the writer recalls. Former 
students of Mercer and friends came from every part of Geor¬ 
gia, and some came from other states, and in all, there were 
more than two thousand present. Dr. Spright Dowell made a 
wonderful speech, and he was followed by President S. V. San¬ 
ford of the State University. Dr. William Heard Kilpatrick of 
Columbia University paid a wonderful tribute to “Ole Miss”, 
Mrs. Billington M. Sanders, while Dr. B. D. Ragsdale gave a 
most interesting review of Mercer from its founding, down to 
date. Mrs. Frank Jones of Gray, Ga., and a great friend of 
Mercer, made a wonderful contribution by way of an historic 
booklet. This booklet gave a map of the original Penfield show¬ 
ing the location of all the buildings on the campus; the boarding 
houses where the boys lived, and the names of the owners; 
where the homes of the professors stood; where the Christian 
Index was published; the building that housed the Female Col¬ 
lege, and much other valuable information. (See cut and legend.) 

Dr. George W. Truitt, of Dallas, Texas, arrived after 
the meeting had adjourned for dinner, therefore, he did not 
have the opportunity of making a speech much to the disap¬ 
pointment of all present. 

The people of Penfield exemplified the spirit that made the 
first Mercer possible; and many events are referred to as, be¬ 
fore or after the Mercer Centennial. 


242 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


This gathering aroused interest in the Penfield of “other 
days” among people from all parts of the state, and even now, 
many people make pilgrimages to Penfield to view the original 
site of Mercer University. In addition to that, public schools 
and private individuals have become “Mercer-minded.” As 
evidence of this fact, Morningside School in Atlanta, request¬ 
ed the writer to send them three trees from the old Mercer 
Campus to form a “Mercer Cluster” on the school-grounds. 
Mr. Henry Y. McCord, a Methodist layman in Atlanta, request¬ 
ed two trees to be planted at Salem Camp-grounds in memory 
of Silas and Jesse Mercer. When Dr. Dowell heard of this 
interest in Mercer, he said: “Dr. Rice, you have put yourself 
in the nursery business, we want some of these same trees to 
be planted on the New Mercer Campus, and they were prompt¬ 
ly carried in person, to Macon. 

A little later, one of the trustees of the public schools of 
Penfield said to the writer: “We need the old Ciceronian Hall 
in connection with our school, and we haven’t the money to buy 
it. Won’t you come to our aid and help us get it?” This old 
building had fallen into private hands many years ago, and 
was in bad condition. I relayed this request to Dr. Louie New¬ 
ton, pastor of Druid Hills Baptist church in Atlanta, and con¬ 
tacted some friends with the result that, the building was pur¬ 
chased and deeded to the people of Penfield for school pur¬ 
poses. Mr. James Porter of Macon, Ga., gave $250.00 toward 
repairing the building, and Col. Sam Tate of Tate, Ga., gave 
a marble slab commemorating the donors. The slab was set in 
the brick wall to the right of the front entrance and read as 
follows: 


“This Building-The Old Ciceronian Hall of Mercer University was 
Purchased From Private Owner January 17, 1934 and Presented to the 
People of Penfield By 


A FRIEND 
BRYAN BLACKBURN 
C. S. BURGESS 
CASON CALLAWAY 
CHARLES A. DAVIS 


A FRIEND 
P. W. JONES 
R. F. JONES 
H. Y. McCORD 
WILEY L. MOORE 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


243 


HAL M. DAVISON 
T. C. DAVISON 
T. G. DODSON 
B. J. W. GRAHAM 
H. H. HARDIN 
J. M. HARRISON 
E. M. HUDSON 
W. FRANK JENKINS 


LOUIE D. NEWTON 
THOMAS H. PITTS 
COLUMBUS ROBERTS 
W. P. SEWELL 
Z. A. SNIPES 
H. W. STEPHENSON 
EUGENE TALMADGE 
HUGH M. WILLET 


This Building was Repaired By 
JAMES H. PORTER 
in 1934 


As a Memorial to His Father 
OLIVER PORTER 

A, Student at Mercer University In 1854 and a Beloved 
Citizen of Greene County. 

Above this tablet there is a bronze plate that reads: 
This marble tablet was given by 
COL. SAM TATE. 

The original Corner-Stone in this Building reads: 

VERITAS ET ELOQUENTIA 
THIS STONE WAS LAID 
THE 19th OF JUNE A. D. 1848 
THE 14th ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE CICERONIAN SOCIETY. 

On September 3, 1934, there was another pilgrimage to 
Penfield; the occasion being the rededication of the old Ciceron¬ 
ian Hall, and delivering the deed to the property to the people 
of Penfield. The building had been repaired and made into an 
auditorium. T. B. Rice acted as master of ceremonies. Speeches 
were made by Dr. Louie D. Newton, Dr. Spright Dowell, Dr. 
Hugh M. Willet, Dr. James W. Merritt, Dr. M. L. Brittain, 
President of Georgia Tech., Major R. J. Guinn, Mr. Henry 
Y. McCord and others; but the climax, was the wonderful his¬ 
toric address by the master Baptist Historian, Dr. D. B. Rags¬ 
dale. He reviewed the history of the Ciceronian Society, and 
spoke on some of the great Georgians who debated in this his¬ 
toric old building and spoke of the subjects that claimed the at¬ 
tention of students when Mercer University was young. Dr. 
Hal M. Davison, Carleton Collier, from the Atlanta Geor- 


244 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


gians, “Uncle Jim” Williams, editor of the Greensboro Herald- 
Journal and other prominent men of the state were present. Rev. 
Webster Callaway, pastor of the Penfield Baptist church and 
principal of the school acted as host, while Mr. A. J. Boswell, 
who is a Presbyterian layman, took an active part in restoring 
the grounds and building, and was the genius who looked after 
the wonderful dinner that was served beneath the oaks that 
have stood as sentinels over the Mercer campus for more 
than a hundred years. 

The Christian Index of Sep. 13, 1934, carried the story 
of the gathering at Penfield. It also contained pictures of the 
old Ciceronian Hall, the delivery of the deed to Mr. A. J. 
Boswell, and a number of the men who took an active part in 
the occasion. 

Whatever wounds were caused by the removal of Mer¬ 
cer University from Penfield to Macon, have been healed; 
and Greene County is more Mercer-minded that it has been 
for many years. Penfield will become more and more a Shrine 
for Georgia Baptists as the years go by, and all Christian de¬ 
nominations will take pride in visiting the “cradle” of historic 
Mercer University. 

From this point on, the writer will have to ask the indul¬ 
gence of the reader for the personal reference that seems ne¬ 
cessary for him to make. 

In the spring of 1935, the Trustees of Mercer University 
saw fit to unanimously nominate T. B. Rice, of Greensboro, 
Ga., as a member of the board of Trustees. This nomination 
will have to be confirmed, or rejected by the Georgia Baptist 
Convention when it meets in Atlanta. Following this nomina¬ 
tion, the Executive Committee of Mercer saw fit to ask this 
Trustee to act as chairman of a state-wide campaign to raise 
the sum of $25,000, for some greatly needed repairs to some 
of the old buildings on the Mercer Campus, viz; Penfield 
Hall, which was the first building erected after Mercer was 
moved to Macon, the cottages where married ministerial stu¬ 
dents and their families live, and to add another story to one 
of the dormitories. The campaign has been on, for several 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


245 


months, and at this time, Oct. 1935, practically half the amount 
has been raised, while less than half the state has been covered. 

EXCERPTS FROM ORIGINAL RECORDS 
(By T. B. Rice) 

By way of preface, the following excerpts were taken from two books 
that are the original records of the Mission Board of the Georgia Baptist 
Association, and the title page reads as follows: 

“Minutes and Proceedings of the Mission Board Ap¬ 
pointed by the Georgia Association in the year 1816.” 

“At a meeting of the Mission Board held at Whatley’s Mill Greene 
County on the 17th day of January 1817. The following members at¬ 
tended (viz) Bretheren Alercer, Mathews, Davis, Rhodes, Reeves, 
Roberts and Rabun. After solumn prayer had been made,the following 
officers were chosen viz. 

“Elder James Mathews, President; William Rabun, Sec¬ 
retary; Elder Joseph Roberts Treasurer.” 

“Elders Mercer and Rhodes were unanimously appointed dele¬ 
gates to represent this Board at the Missionary Convention of the 
Baptist denomination of the United States, to be held in Philadelphia 
on the first Wednesday in May next.” 

“Ordered that the Secretary prepare suitable credentials 
for them.” 

This book gives accounts of all the meetings of the Mission Board up 
to the year 1833, and merges into the first book of minutes of MERCER 
INSTITUTE. 

Following this, comes the first book of minutes of Mercer Institute, and 

the title page reads: 

“Mercer Institute May 7th 1833” 

This book contains the minutes of Mercer Institute, Mercer University, 
and the Georgia Association Mission Board up to October 31, 1845. 

The proceedings are headed, Mercer Institute” up to January 1839, after 
that date the minutes begin with PENFIELD. (This may indicate that the 
town was incorporated about that time and was named Penfield.) 

Pages 2 and 3 tell the story of how these two books were lost to Mer¬ 
cer University from 1841 to 1940-ninety-nine years, and how they were re¬ 
possessed after long and tedious efforts and an outlay of $200.00 in actual 
cash. 

Plans are now being made to keep them in locked steel cabinets and 
stored in the fire-proof vault in the Library of Mercer University, in the 
city of Macon, Georgia. 

EXCERPTS AND DEDUCTIONS: 

The minutes state that, Bro. Brantly was the first choice of the Trustees 
to head Mercer Institute, and that “Brother and Sister” B. M. Sanders were 
jointly appointed Stewards at a yearly salary of $800.00 and room and board 
for themselves and their three children. Later, it was ordered that “a brick 
chimney and one glass window be built in Bro. Sanders’ room.” 


246 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


On Nov. 19, 1833, the minutes read: “After a short consultation Bro. 
B. M. Sanders was unanimously chosen to fill the vacancy occasioned by 
the resignation of Bro. Brantly, and Bro. Stocks & Thornton were appoint¬ 
ed to acquaint him with this choice, and to request an answer from him 
before the close of this meeting.” 

A paragraph from the minutes of the same meeting reads: 

“In consideration of the failure of Bro. Brantly, agreed to limit 
the number of scholars to 70 or 75, unless the Principal shall find 
that he can manage more, in which case, at his discretion, the 
number may be increased to 80.” 


Site Chosen for Mercer Institute: 

June 26, 1832 

“The committee met according to adjournment; Present J. Mer¬ 
cer, Mod. J. Armstrong, J. Davis, T. Stocks & B. M. Sanders, Sec'y. 

“Entered into a contract with Bro. William Redd in behalf of J. K. 
Redd his son, for 450 acres of land for $1400.00, $700 to be paid down 
the balance at Christmas and took his Bond for Titles when the last 
payment is made.” 

“Went into the election of Trustees for the Institution elected 
Brother O. Porter, John Mercer, Wm. Redd, Dr. Thomas P. Janes 
& William Greer.” 

Note: The question might arise as to why the committee 
did not deal directly with the owner of the land instead of 
his father? Fortunately, the writer has the key to the answer. 

The younger Redd was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, 
Greene County, as late as 1832 and, like many young men of his day, he 
turned his face westward. He is said to have moved to Columbus, 
Ga., and when the war between Texas and Mexico began, he cast 
his lot with the Texans, and became a Lieutenant in the Texas Army 
and was in the battle of San Jacinto. 

According to Reuben J. Dawson, son of General Thomas Dawson 
of Greene County, and who was born around the year 1810, was a re¬ 
gular contributor to The Greensboro-Herald-Journal. 

In February 1888, he wrote a lengthy article telling about Gen¬ 
eral William McIntosh’s visit to Greensboro and making an address 
in the Methodist Church. This visit was a few days after General 
McIntosh signed the Treaty at Indian Springs on Feb. 12, 1825, or, 
to be exact, General McIntosh visited Greensboro on May 1, 1825. 

Mr. Dawson was a lad. at that time, but he wrote of being present 
and hearing General McIntosh speak. He also told of other boys 
who were present with him, and young Redd was among them. 
In refering to Redd, he said: 

“When the first War of Independence broke out between 
Texas and Mexico, he was an officer in a Texas regiment, 
and after two great battles of San Jacinto and the Alamo was 
over, he challenged a brother officer for a duel who accepted 
the challenge and fought at the length of a silk pocket hand¬ 
kerchief, at the crack of their pistols, he and his brother of 
ficer fell dead upon the field. Thus died the boy, the gallant, 
brave Lt. Redd. He was a son of Capt. Redd, of Columbus, 

Ga., who was formerly a citizen of our county. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


247 


BROTHER AND SISTER SANDERS EMPLOYED 

In the minutes of October 13, 1832, “Bro. Davis, who had been 
appointed on a committee to confer with Bro. Sanders relative to en¬ 
gaging his and Sister Sanders services in our contemplated school, 
reported that they could be engaged for $800 for the services of both 
per Annum by furnishing board for them and their three small chil¬ 
dren and a nurse.” 

This report was agreed to by the committee and Brother and 
Sister Sander’s services were engaged for the school to enter on their 
duties on the 2nd Monday in January next; Bro. Sanders as principal 
Teacher and Steward and Sister Sanders to superintend the boarding.” 

Thus was the machinery of Mercer Institute made ready 

for the day when classes should start on the 2nd Monday in 

January 1833. 

These early records-minutes of the Mission Board and first min¬ 
utes of Mercer Institute were loaned to Dr. B. D. Ragsdale, by Miss 
Bessie Butler, of Madison, Georgia, while he was assembling mater¬ 
ials for his “STORY OF GEORGIA BAPTISTS”. After Dr. Rags¬ 
dale had “sifted” the records he returned them to Miss Butler where 
they remained until purchased by T. B. Rice on October 24, 1940. 

The “meat” of the story that is recorded in these two volumes of 
records is to be found in Dr. RagsdalFs book, Vol. 1, beginning on p. 
23. Three volumes of Dr. Ragsdale’s “Story of Georgia Baptists” have 
been published, and those Baptists who have not bought and read them, 
have missed a rare treat. Dr. Ragsdale is not only a historian of the 
first magnitude; but he tells the story in his own unique way. 


BACK TO THE MINUTES OF THE OLD MISSION BOARD 

When the Mission Board met at the Powellton Church on the 
second Lord’s day in October 1821, Captain Abram Simons, the 
Jew whose money made Mercer University possible was present and 
gave $20.00 for Missions. (This is recorded in the minutes). 

Four years later, Oct. 7, 1825, the Mission Board met at Green¬ 
wood Church, and Captain Simon’s widow gave $60.00 for Missions, 
the largest individual gift recorded, up to that time. Rev. Jesse Mer¬ 
cer was there, he was a widower and Mrs. Simons was a rich widow 
(who knows but that Mr. Mercer set up and took notice and soon, 
began courting the rich widow Simons)? Be that as it may, but it 
was not long after that when Mrs. Simons became Mrs. Mercer. 


MISSION WORK AMONG THE CREEK INDIANS 

In the year 1821, the Ocmulgee Baptist Association sought the co¬ 
operation of the Mission Board in the matter of establishing a Mission 
among the Creek Indians. D. B. Mitchell, Agent for Indian Affairs 
writes: “I favor such plan, but it is opposed by several Head Men 
of that Nation, the Creeks.” (The Indians were being pushed West¬ 
ward, at that time, and they were highly prejudiced against the 
Whites). 




248 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


DESIGNATED MISSION GIFTS STARTED EARLY 

When the Georgia Association and the Mission Board met at 
Bethesda Church on Oct. 8, 1820, the Augusta Baptist Churches sent 
gifts of $100.00 and designated that it be given to Foreign Missions. 
The Mission Board ordered that $100.00 be added to that amount, and 
that $200.00 be sent to the “General Fund of the United States for 
Mission purposes.” 

(It was found that the amount suffered 2^% discount in send¬ 
ing the money to the North). 


BROTHER BRANTLY EAGERLY SOUGHT 

At the 1832 June meeting “Bro. Mercer reported that Bro. Brant- 
ly promises to come in January 1834, at a salary of $1500.00 for all 
his services as well as for preaching & teaching; whereupon Bro. 
Mercer pledged one-tenth of his salary, Bro. Armstrong one-tenth, 
Bro. Lumpkin one-tenth, Bro. Sanders one-tenth, Bro. Davis two- 
tenths, Bro. Harris one-tenth, Bro. Thornton one-tenth, and learning 
that Bro. Turpin of Augusta, and Bro. T. Cooper of Eatonton, would 
do the same, & Bro. Mercer was ordered to close the agreement with 
Bro. Brantley.” 


FEARED BRO. SHERWOOD’S PRIVATE SCHOOL 

On October 13, 1832, the following resolution appeared in the 
minutes: 

“Resolved that whereas several of the committee have re¬ 
quested Bro. Sherwood to give up his private school on the 
working plan in favor of Mercer Institute we all now unite in 
said request.” (The request was withdrawn, later). 


FROM INSTITUTE TO COLLEGE 

August 25, 1837, “A Resolution was offered to elevate Mercer 
Institute to the character of College and that application be made the 
next Legislature.” 


A FEMALE INSTITUTE ABORNING: 

The contemplated Southern Female College to be located in 
Washington, Ga., came to naught although, many thousands of dol¬ 
lars had been pledged for its establishment. The Mission Board had 
employed men to solicit funds for the College, and the outlook was 
propitious. This was in the early part of the year 1837. When the 
Mission Board met on August 25, 1837, the following Resolution 
was introduced: 

“Resolved that a Female Institute be established (in Penfield), 
and that lots be sold for that purpose.” 






HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


249 


MERCER UNIVERSITY IS BORN: 

On September 19, 1837, the following Resolution was offered: 

“Resolved that the title of the institution be changed from Mer¬ 
cer Institute to Mercer University, and that the Town contiguous to 
the Institution be called PENFIELD.” 

The Act incorporating MERCER UNIVERSITY and PEN- 
FIELD, excluded all “Dram Shops, Gambling houses and such like 
nuisances from the premises belonging to the Convention.” (This com¬ 
prised some fifteen hundred acres of land). 


CHOOSING A PRESIDENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY 

Quoting from the minutes of the Board of Trustees: 

“Took up the subject of appointing a President for Mercer Uni¬ 
versity; whereupon Wm. T. Brantly of Philadelphia, was appointed 
to take charge of the Seminary, as soon as funds can be procured 
for his support.” 


ADIEL SHERWOOD COMES TO MERCER 
The minutes of Oct. 7, 1837, read as follows: 

“Bro. Adiel Sherwood was chosen Professor of Sacred 
literature in the Mercer University, and to enter upon his 
duties as soon as suitable arrangements can be made.” (This 
minute was recorded on Dec. 12, 1837, instead of Oct. 7, as 
shown above). 

At that time, Bro. Sherwood was busily engaged in looking after 
the second edition of “Sherwood’s Gazetteer” and getting it ready for 
publication. The first edition was written and published while he was 
pastor of both Greensboro and Eatonton Baptist Churches. He and 
Jesse Mercer organized the Greensboro Baptist Church on June 9, 
1821. Mr. Sherwood became its first pastor and served until January 
14, 1832. He had been living in Eatonton for some years and had 
established a school similar to the one that was being contemplated 
at Mercer Institute, later to become Mercer University, and the town 
that sprung up around it w r as named Penfield. 


EARLIER MINUTES OF MERCER TRUSTEES 

Among the early minutes of Mercer Institute, the name of William 
Tryon appears, and in substance, is as follows: 

“Bro. William Tryon of New York, aged 23, made application as 
a beneficiary of Mercer Institute; his credentials were examined and 
he was admitted.” 

Later, William Tryon became Agent of Mercer University in 
soliciting funds for the institution. Still later. Rev. Jesse Mercer sent 
him to Texas as a missionary and, in collaboration with Dr. Rufus 
Burleson he became one of the founders of Baylor College, at Inde¬ 
pendence, Texas, now Baylor University, at Waco, Texas. 

In his book, “Life and Writings of Dr. Rufus Burleson,” com- 





250 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


piled and published by Mrs. Georgia J. Burleson, in 1901, Dr. Burle¬ 
son, in writing of the unselfish life of William M. Tryon, says: re- 
fering to the school under consideration, “A contest arose between 
them, not for position, advantage or wealth, but to avoid those allure¬ 
ments of honor, so fascinating to ordinary morals, and confer them 
on another.” 

“Mr. Tryon proposed that the institution be christened “Baylor.” 
Judge R. E. B. Baylor objected, and suggested “Tryon.” Mr. Tryon 
did not consent to this suggestion, stating that he had been actively 
advocating the establishment of the school for years, and if were 
named in his honor, some might think his efforts had been in behalf 
of his own glory.” 

“This controversy, involving only the avoidance of honor, was 
prolonged and remained unsettled, so Judge Baylor afterwards stated, 
until other members of the Education Society were called in, who 
instructed the committee to insert the name “Baylor University” in 
in the blank. 

Thus did the unselfish beneficiary of Mercer University, Wil¬ 
liam M. Tryon, have a very large part in creating BAYLOR 
UNIVERSITY, a “child” of old Mercer at Penfield. 

Note: The following paragraph appears on p. 70 of Dr. Burle¬ 
son’s book: 

“Whereas, about sundown on Tuesday evening, November 16th, 
1847, it pleased Almighty God to take to himself our beloved pastor, 
William M. Tryon; therefore be it Resolved, etc, etc. 

Mr. Tryon was pastor of the First Baptist Church, at Houston, 
Texas, at the time of his death. The article says: “He fell at his post 
a victim of yellow fever, just eighteen months after being installed as 
pastor. 

Why should the writer be so interested in William Tryon and 
Baylor? Simply this: his mother Rebecca Williamson, received her 
education at Baylor College, at Independence, Texas. She, and three 
of her brothers entered Baylor in the spring of 1853 and continued 
through 1856. 

We will digress from the original minutes in order to tell of the 
organization of the Penfield Baptist Church. The original Shiloh 
Baptist Church was constituted about the year 1795, and was located 
about one mile south-west of where Penfield now stands. It led in 
gifts to missions in 1817, and was the church-home of such families 
as the Redds, Stocks, Porters, Moncriefs, Culbrethsons, and many 
other early Baptist families. 

When Mercer Institute came into being, and up to 1839, the 
professors and students of Mercer worshipped at old Shiloh and, a 
number of the preacher-professors served as pastor. About the year 
1839, a cyclone destroyed the church and most of the early records. 

The Penfield members invited the Shiloh bretheren to unite with 
them in building a church in Penfield, on the college campus. The 
overture was rejected and a new Shiloh was built on the Greens- 
boro-Penfield road, about half way between the two towns, where the 
present Shiloh now stands. 

According to Rev. R. W. Haynie, the present pastor of the Pen- 
field church, the following tells the story of the organization of the 
Penfield Baptist Church: 

“Following are the names of the Presbytery which organized the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


251 


church (Penfield Church) in a wooden building across the road just 
east of the chapel, (in 1839) C. D. Mallory, V. R. Thornton, W. M. 
Tryon, B. M. Sanders. All of them ministers.” 

“The following presented letters (mostly from Shiloh) and con¬ 
stituted the roll of charter members. James Davant, Martha Davant, 
James H. Low, A. Buckner, Ansel Albrittan, Noah Hill, Edna Wil¬ 
liams, Taliatha Hill, Wm. Richards, Ann Richards, Sam’l Richards, 
A. E. Reeves, John Attaway, J. G. Polhill, Eliza H. Reeves, A. Sher¬ 
wood. Emma Sherwood, B. F. Thorp, A. Wellborn, H. A. Gibson, 
and Catherine Richards.” 

“The prayer was offered by V. R. Thornton and W. M. Tryon 
delivered the charge. C. D. Mallory presided and B. M. Sanders was 

Sec’y- 

Articles of faith were adopted and a church Covenant was en¬ 
tered into.” 

“Billington M. Sanders was the first clerk of the church and E. 
Mallory supplied the pulpit alternately until June 8, 1837, A,diel Sher¬ 
wood was called to the pastorate. A list of all the pastors who have 
served the church since its organization is not available now. It in¬ 
cludes some of the outstanding men of the denomination in the South. 
Outstanding among them and having the longest pastorate, was 
John S. Callaway who served the church 29 years. Of the children 
born in the present pastorium while Dr. Callaway was pastor there, 
were John Callaway and Mrs. E. R. Boswell of Greensboro.” 


EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM THE ORIGINAL MINUTES OF 
MERCER INSTITUTE AT PENFIELD, GEORGIA, AS 
THEY WERE RECORDED ON APRIL 15, 1833. 

(By T. B. Rice) 

Through the courtesy of Miss Bessie Butler of Madison, Ga., this writ¬ 
er was permitted to see the first minutes ever recorded by the secretary of 
Mercer Institute, the fore-runner of Mercer University; and while they were 
written with a goosequill pen and home-made ink, they are as clear as they 
were the day they were written. 


THE PEOPLE INTERESTED 

Page after page was devoted to listing money donated by friends of the 
institution. The name of the givers together with the articles given were care¬ 
fully recorded and valued; and the list included almost everything that was 
needed for housekeeping. It included tableware of every description, kitchen¬ 
ware from spiders to potracks. One good sister donated 130 lbs. of soap, 
meaning old fashioned lye soap. Many pots and brooms were included in the 
list. Most of the gifts from the men, consisted of axes, hoes, rakes, plows, 
plow-gear, nails, white lead, paint brushes, carpenters tools, and nearly every¬ 
thing needed to equip a shop and run a farm, it must be remembered that 
this institution began as an industrial school where the students partly, earned 
their education, and this equipment was very necessary. 



252 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


FREE SCHOOL BOOKS ARE NOTHING NEW 

The minutes stated that the Trustees of Mercer Institute had bought 
from “Richards” school books amounting to $112.45, “Richards” was the 
ancestor of The S. P. Richards Co. of Atlanta, and for writing paper, slates, 
Daball’s arithmetics—Sanford had not appeared upon the scene, geographies 
and atlases they had paid $22.65, making a total of $135.20 paid for school 
books etc. Preachers and prominent laymen donated books containing noted 
sermons, works on theology and other books that would be helpful for minis¬ 
terial students. Thus did Mercer Institute begin its career of teaching young 
men to become ministers, lawyers, doctors, governors, United States Con¬ 
gressmen and Senators, farmers, missionaries and other useful citizens. 


WHAT AN ARRAY OF SPONSORS!! 

Behind this first Southern Christian School stood such men as Jesse 
Mercer. Billington M. Sanders, David Butler, Major Oliver Porter, Thomas 
Redd, Thomas Stocks James M. Porter, Absolom Janes, James K. Daniel, 
William Greer and many other men of high standing and wealth who stood 
ever ready to meet the needs of this embryonic-University. It was the pride 
of all Georgia, and a Baptist baby, to be sure, but all denominations had a 
part in the Baptism of this infant. 


BILLINGTON M. SANDERS, STEWARD 

We have always thought of Billington M. Sanders as President only; 
but the old minutes put him at the mast-head as “Steward.” Page after page 
is devoted to foodstuff that he provided for the students under his care, and 
as the “Mess-Hall” was presided over by “Ole Miss”, Mrs. Cynthia Sanders, 
we may rest assured that none went hungry. The motherly kindness of “Ole 
Miss” was never forgotten by the pre-Confederate War students who attend¬ 
ed old Mercer, at Penfield. 


TUITION PAID FOR IN LABOR 

Many, or practically all of the early students at Mercer Institute, the 
community went by that name long before it took the name Penfield, worked 
and paid for their tuition and board, just as many now do at Berry in¬ 
stitute. Mercer Institute owned and operated a 1000 acre farm, and the stu¬ 
dents did much of the work. 

Studying was done at night by the light of tallow candles and pine knots, 
kerosene oil was not used until the late 1840’s and the cost was very high, 
$1.75 per gallon, therefore, was little used, and we fail to find where “Steward 
Sanders” provided any of this luxury. 


MERCER UNIVERSITY 

When the school took on the dignity of becoming a UNIVERSITY, it 
did not discontinue its practice of allowing boys to earn their education, and 
they continued to eat at the table of “Ole Miss”. The village had taken on the 
name of Penfield, many lots had been sold, streets and sidewalks had been 
graded, a number of fine homes and boarding houses had been built, the old 






HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


253 


wooden buildings had been torn down and replaced with fine brick struc¬ 
tures. Mercer University and Penfield were booming .... 

The Christian Index moved in from Washington, Ga., John Seals and 
his Temperance Crusader did likewise, and following upon the heels of these 
two publications came William C. Richards and his classical Magazine, the 
ORION. Amidst forty-nine verse Sonnets the Orion tells of “Rock Moun¬ 
tain ’ and Tallulah Falls. The ORION acknowledges with thanks, the re¬ 
ceipt of the works of the Hon. Richard Henry Wilde “which we have read 
with great pleasure.” 

Greensboro played second-fiddle then. All county news and legal ads, 
were published in Penfield, and the “tradespeople” looked with envy on the 
rapidly growing town of Penfield. 


HOW A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WAS FINANCED 
BY A JEW 

In 1798 a Mr. Abram Simons, a resident of Wilkes Coun¬ 
ty married a Miss Nancy Mills. Mr. Simons was a Jew and a 
man of considerable means and very active in business circles. 
He died sometime around 1827. His large estate was inherited 
by his widow, Mrs. Nancy Simon. 

Jesse Mercer a devout and worthy Baptist minister who 
had lost his wife some time before this, married this Mrs. 
Simons and came into possession and into control of a large 
amount of money. 

Nancy Simons Mercer who lived about 14 years after her 
marriage to Jesse Mercer became interested in the work of 
her husband. He was thrifty and had good business judgment 
and his wife agreed with him in helping to use her money to 
establish Mercer University. 

It is not generally known that the fortune upon which 
Mercer University was built came from the coffers of a Colon¬ 
ial Jew. Barring the Penfield lagacy most of the funds to es¬ 
tablish this school came from Simon’s estate. 

At Jesse Mercer’s death, with the consent of his wife Nancy 
Simons, the residue of their estate, after his debts were paid 
went to Mercer University. The amount of money was between 
$100,000 to $400,000. So we see that Mercer University is 
largely indebted to the skill and enterprise of a Jewish financier 
for its founding and continuance. 


254 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Captain Simons, as he is referred to by H. R. Bernard was 
a remarkably kind and faithful husband. His wife Nancy was 
not a professed religionist of any faith, was fond of going 
to church and often entertained ministers in her home. He 
frequently attended religious services with her and they had 
a very happy life together. Nancy proved to be just as fine a 
wife to Jesse Mercer and was devoted to her home and the 
interests of Jesse Mercer. 

Mr. Mercer in writing his wife’s obituary, said Abram 
Simons was a man of the world, who loved to surround him¬ 
self with men of high standing and ‘big names’. In short he 
was a sporting man, a member of the Augusta Jockey Club, 
and he entertained lavishly. This was not much to the taste 
of the refined little woman, whose veins were filled with the 
aristocratic blood of the Mills. John Mills the father of Nancy 
was an aristocrat from Virginia. 

When Jesse Mercer went to the tailor for a new suit, 
Nancy, always went with him to select the suit. She had the 
backs of the waistcoats (vest) made of yellow satin as vellow 
was her favorite color. She was a beautiful little dark-eyed 
and dark-haired woman and often wore yellow ribbons on her 
bonnets and caps. She was refined and cultured and smoothed 
out the rough spots of Jesse’s social manners. 

Jesse Mercer had a fortune at his disposal and could re¬ 
lax from the hard frontier life that he had known. His pen 
was employed in writing for the press and his fame went 
abroad. About this time he published, “Mercer’s Cluster”, a 
book of poems which later was published as a book of hymns. 

In 1833, the Christian Index which had been published 
at Philadelphia by the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions and 
before that published in Washington, D. C. was transferred to 
the management of Jesse Mercer. He bought a new press and 
type costing $3,000 and removed the Index to Washington, Ga. 
It was published along with a temperance paper in a two-story 
dwelling at the corner of Main and Depot Streets. Some years 
later he moved the paper to Penfield, Ga. The building was sold 
to Dr. James H. Lane. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


255 


The grave of Abraham Simons is on the Augusta road 8 
miles from Washington, Ga., in a rock enclosure, no monument 
or stone tells who was buried there, though he was a Revolution¬ 
ary soldier and a man of wealth. Before he died he had his 
grave prepared and walled up with solid rock. He left orders 
that they bury him standing up on his feet with his musket be¬ 
side him to fight the devil with. His orders were carried out. 
His casket was placed on the end, which necessitated the digging 
of a grave twice the usual depth. 

Nancy Simons Mercer died in May 1834 after a year of 
paralysis, not speaking a word or making a step. Jesse Mer¬ 
cer died Sept. 6, 1841 while on a visit near Indian Springs and 
was buried at Penfield. He tried to get the school named Mer¬ 
cer in 1838 located at Washington, Ga. and was greatly dis¬ 
appointed when it was voted to locate the school at Penfield. 


MERCER UNIVERSITY AT THE CLOSE OF 
THE WAR 

(By T. B. Rice) 

As Mercer University and other Georgia Baptist Col¬ 
leges begin making plans for a five million dollars endowment 
fund it may be well to refer to Mercer Institute and Mercer 
University when Penfield was the seat of learning for Georgia 
Baptists, and the causes leading up to its removal to Macon. 

All of the older citizens know that the War Between the 
States so impovished the people that it was impossible to main¬ 
tain a University, and the best that the Trustees of Mercer 
could possibly do was to operate an Academy until such time 
as sufficient funds could be raised to re-establish the Univer¬ 
sity. This was the sincere hope of all concerned, especially the 
people of Greene County and the Georgia Association. 

The cities of Atlanta and Macon knew, in all probability, 
that it would be impossible to re-establish Mercer at Penfield, 
or in any remote part of the state, therefore, the progressive 
citizens of these two cities began making overtures to Georgia 
Baptists to move Mercer. They both made attractive offers to 


256 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


the Georgia Baptist Convention and carried on an extensive 
campaign among Georgia Baptists with the view of crystaliz- 
ing sentiment in favor of accepting their offer. This brought 
about heated discussions for several years, in both the Geor¬ 
gia Baptist Convention and the Georgia Baptist Association 
in which Mercer University was then located. 

THE NEW MERCER UNIVERSITY 

It took a long time for the people of Greene, and the 
Georgia Association, to become reconciled to the removal of 
Mercer from Penfield to Macon; but that feeling has long 
since passed away. Macon “The Heart of Georgia” was the 
logical location for Mercer University. And what a noble part 
Macon has done for Mercer!! While the people of Macon 
know that Mercer is a Baptist University, they look upon it 
as their very own, and are ever ready to respond to Mercer’s 
needs. This statement is amply substantiated by the handsome 
Girls Dormitory constructed at a cost of more than $150,000, 
a gift from that princely Methodist Steward, James Hyde 
Porter. Nor is this James Porter’s first gift to Mercer. The 
commodious Gymnasium and other improvements of the campus, 
have been made possible through Mr. Porter’s generosity. And, 
if Georgia Baptists are sufficiently interested in Mercer to visit 
the grounds, they will see marvelous improvements that have 
taken place within the past few years under the masterful leader¬ 
ship of Dr. Spright Dowell, who has been its able President. 
Columbus Roberts’ Hall, a handsome Boys Dormitory, is a 
gift of that noble Baptist layman and his family. The Willing¬ 
hams of Macon, the Hardeman family of Commerce, the Wil- 
lets of Atlanta and Augusta, and many others have made 
notable gifts to Mercer within the past few years. 


KEY TO MAP OF PENFIELD 

1. Site of L. L. Andrews’ House. 

All of L. L. Andrews’ sons attended Mercer: Jack Lumpkin, ‘56 J. 
Davis, ’56; Jos. R. ’58; Cicero C. and George W. Andrews. George 
W. Andrews taught at the Male Academy. 

2. House-Rev. Lewis Brooks 

I. L. Brooks was one of the contributors to the Josiah Penfield Fund 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



257 







































258 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


in 1829, Prin. of the Female Academy, a Mercer Trustee, 1840-45. Born 
in Rockingham, Co. N. C. in 1793, son of Jonathan and Ann Lewis 
Brooks of Spotsylyania Co., Va. and grandson of the Rev. Iverson Lewis, 
prominent Baptist minister of King and Queens County, Va. He was 
of the class on 1817, University of N. C. This house later belonged to 
Mrs. Amasa Kellam and then Janies W. Colclough. 

3. Site of the Joseph E. Willett House 

J. E. Willett, ’46 founder of the Berzelius Society at Yale and Pro¬ 
fessor of Chemistry and Natural Science at Mercer, 1847-93. In 1851 
he married Emily, daughter of Rev. Billington Sanders. Their sons are: 
Nathaniel L., 70; and Hugh M. Willett, Pres, of the Mercer Board of 
Trustees. 

4. Site of the Phillip B. Robinson House 

P. B. Robinson, ’54 was both judge and minister, he served Mercer 
as a Trustee, 1866-78 and as commencement orator in 1868. His sons; 
Lewis B., Thos. W., Wm. A., and Phillip B., Jr. attended Mercer. 

5. The James M. Lankford House, (corner of Watson Spring Road) 

6. The William B. Johnson Home, (On Watson Spring Road) 

Wm. Johnson’s five sons attended Mercer, Albert T. ’61; Wm. H., L. 
D., James M., and Oscar B. 

7. The Cheney-Boswell House, (Watson Spring Road) 

8. The B. E. Spencer House 

B. E. Spencer’s son, Alvah B. Spencer, class of ’59 was killed in the 
War between the States. 

9. The James Rabun Sanders House 

J. R. Sanders married Cornelia, daughter of Absolem Janes, a Mer¬ 
cer Trustee. Their sons were: Rabun Clifford Sanders, ’68, and Jere¬ 
miah Sanders, 70. The house is now owned by Jeremiah Sanders daugh¬ 
ter, Mrs. Annie Sanders Hendricks of Charleston, S. C. 

10. The Shelton P. Sanford House 

S. P. Sanford was Prof, of Mathematics and Astronomy, 1839. Dur¬ 
ing the war Mercer’s faculty was reduced to three members: Pres. N. 
M. Crawford, Professors Sanford and Willett. Sanford’s birthplace two 
miles east of Greensboro is still standing. In 1840 he married Maria 
Dickerman, who taught music in the Female Academy. Their son Charles 
V. Sanford was graduated in ’67, and their daughter Anna married the 
Rev. A. J. Cheeves, ’62. A grandson Steadman V. Sanford, ’90 is now 
Pres, of the University of Ga. 1933. House is now the home of Robert 
Callaway. 

11. Site of the John G. Holtzlaw House 

J. G. Holtzlaw’s two sons were students at Mercer. 

12. Mrs. C. A. Lawrence Boarding House 

Mrs. Lawrence’s son Wm. E., attended Mercer. Many students board¬ 
ed here from 1850 to 1861 when most left for the War. 

13. Beasley’s Hotel 

J. G. Beasley was proprietor of the hotel. Many students boarded here 
and many families stayed here during commencement and on special 
occasions. On this site was a house occupied by Dr. J. L. Dagg, until 
the President’s House was completed in 1845. Here also lived Peter 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


259 


Northern from Jones County until his house was completed on E. Main 
St. Dr. Neeson resided here for a time. 

14. Site of the Shaler Granby Hillyer House 

Rev. S. G. Hillyer was Principal of the Female Academy, 1844-45, 
Prof, of Belles-Letters, 1847-56, and Prof, of Theology, 1859-62; a Mer¬ 
cer Trustee, 1838-51. Hei married (2nd) Elizabeth dau. of Rev. J. L. Dagg. 
Pres, of Mercer. His bro. Junius was a member of Congress and a 
Trustee of Mercer 1842-54. His sons were George, ’54, Shaler, ’61, and 
F. Lorraine Hillyer, ’61. 

15. Site of the Asbury-Harris House 

Richard T. Asbury, ’47 was Prin. of the Female Academy, 1853-55 
and Pres, of Monroe Female College. Four of his sons were ministers; 
Wm. M., R. E. L., J. A,., and J. O. Harris and a daughter Mrs. Maru 
Harris Armour a W. C. T. U. leader. 

16. The Female Academy 

The Academy was established in 1838. Some Principals were: Rev. 
Smith 1838, Wm. C. Richards 1839, Benj. O. Pierce, 1840, Thomas Bog 
Slade, 1841-42, Rev. Iverson L. Brooks, 1843-44, Rev. Shaler Hillyer, 
1845, Geo. Y. Browne, 1848, P. S. Whitman, 1850-52, Richard T. As¬ 
bury, 1853-55. The Academy became a town school after 1855. The 
building is now the home of Miss Jimmie Colcough. 

17. Site of the A. M. Lansdell House 

Winfield, son of A. M. Lansdale attended Mercer. 

18. The Greens-Martin House 

Lemuel Greene was a Trustee of Mercer in 1838-42 and of the Female 
Academy in 1839. His son L. D. Greene was a Mercer student. Rev. 
Thomas Martin, ‘43 and wife Sarah Northern daughter of Peter North¬ 
ern from Jones Co. lived here. David W. Lester from Haddock board¬ 
ed here, class 1854. 

19. Site of the James Davant House 

James Davant was a Trustee of Mercer in 1838-42 and of the Female 
Academy. Four of his sons attended Mercer, Phillip E., Robert P. 
Chester, and George S. Davant. 

20. House of the Rev. Billington M. Sanders 

B. M. Sanders was one of the contributors to the Josiah Penfield Fund 
in 1829; Prin. of Mercer Institute 1833-38, first Pres, of Mercer University 
attended Mercer: Dickerson, Dennis N., Charles M., Joseph and Bill¬ 
ington M. Sanders Jr. One daughter Emily mar. Prof. Joseph E. Wil¬ 
lett, Molly, mar. John H. Seals editor of the “Sunny South’’, another 
daughter, Caroline died unmarried in 1917 and left $30,000 to Mercer. 
The second wife of Billington M. Sanders was Cynthia Holiday (Ole 
Miss) who kept the home open for students until the University was 
moved to Macon. 

Charlie Sanders lived here for years, and now the house belongs to 
Albert Cantrell. 

21. Th^ Chenev-McWhorter House 

Dr. Franklin Cheney was a Mercer Trustee, 1838-42 and a Trustee of 
the Female Academy. In 1831 he married Martha Ann Favor, in 1851 
he married Louise West. Three sons: Wm. W.. D. W. and Winslow D. 
attended Mercer. This is now owned by Robert L. McWhorter, Jr. North 
of here was the Porter plantation now called the Cox place. 


260 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


22. Grave of Jesse Mercer 

In 1833 the college was named for Jesse Mercer. During his life he 
gave over $40,000 to Mercer. He was ordained on Nov. 7, 1789 and served 
the following churches: Hutton’s Fork, (Saddis), 1789-1817, Phillips Mill 
Church, 1796-1835, Whatley’s Mill, 1796-1827, Powell’s Creek, 1797-1825, 
Eatonton Church, 1820-26. He preached once a month for forty years 
in the brick Academy in Washington, Wilkes Co. and at the Washing¬ 
ton Church 1828-41. 

He married first Sabrina Shivers Jan. 31, 1788 and second Nancy Mills 
Simons widow of Capt. Abram Simons Dec. 11, 1827. He died Sept. 6, 
T841 in James Carter’s home eight miles north of Indian Springs, Butts 
Co. his body was brought to Penfield to Absalom Janes home. 

23. Site of the old' Chapel 

Built in 1833 of wood with a brick basement, 48x36 ft. and two stories 
high, cost $1500.00. The chapel was used as a meeting house for Pen- 
field Baptists from 1839 and as a dormitory, then it was moved to Wood- 
ville where it now is a private residence. 

24. The President’s House 

Original site of Stewart’s Hall built 1834-5 occupied by Peter North¬ 
ern 1840-44. It was enlarged for the Pres, in 1845. Dr. J. L. Dagg who 
lived here until 1854. To the right the brick dining hall built in 1833 
burned in 1843. The present building was built in 1857 for Pres. Dr. 
N. M. Crawford. 

25. The Chapel 

Built by David Demarest in 1845, now the Penfield Baptist Church. 
In 1848 a memorial tablet was placed here to Jesse Mercer. 

26. Site of the President’s Office. 

27. Site of the brick Dormitory 

Erected in 1848-50, a three-story building. It was used by faculty mem¬ 
bers and their families until Mercer was moved to Macon and then it 
was torn down. 

28. The Science Hall 

Completed in 1848, containing a museum for geological specimens, 
the library, a laboratory and class rooms. 

29. Ciceronian Literary Society Hall 

The Society was organized in 1834 and this building finished in 1848. 

30. Site of the Phi Delta Literary Society Hall 

Organized in 1834 and after a small wooden building a handsome 
building was erected in 1860. 

31. Site of Colclough and Sharp’s Store 

These were leading merchants in Penfield and their sons attended 
Mercer. 

32. Mrs. Stow’s Boarding House 

Mrs. Stowe’s son Elijah attended Mercer and there were about fif¬ 
teen boys boarding here. Dr. J. G. Randle once lived here. 

33. Mrs. Sara Asbury’s Boarding House 

Many students boarded here, now owned by Earle Mullins. 

34. Site of Lewis Barret Callaway House 

Many students boarded here. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


261 


35. The James Armstrong House 

The house was moved from the Mercer campus to this site now own¬ 
ed by R. S. Mullins. 

36. Christian Index and Temperance Banner Building 

The Index and Banner were printed in a building on this site. Rev. 
Jesse Mercer bought the Index and printed it in Washington, Ga. 1833- 
40, then back to Penfield in 1840 and the catalogues of Mercer were 

printed on the old steam press. In 1857 it was moved to Macon. 

37. The A. B. Sharp House 

Built in 1845, A. B. Sharp married Matilda the daughter of Peter 
Northern who moved here from Jones Co., Ga. Their sons Jack and 
Gus were Mercer Students. Robert V. and Frank Hardeman from Clin¬ 
ton boarded here in 1860. 

38. The Peter Northern House 

In 1840 Peter Northern moved from Jones County to Penfield where 
he served Mercer as a Steward and supervisor of manual labor 1840-44, 
Treas. of Baptist Convention and was Captain of Co. D., 5th Ga. Regi¬ 
ment, C. S. A. Born in N. C. in 1794 the son of Wm. and Margaret 
Northern. In 1817 he married Louisa, daughter of Abner Davis of Jones 
County. Their son, William J. Northern, who was born in Jones County 

in 1835 (died in 1913 in Atlanta), went to Penfield with his father 

in 1840 graduated from Mercer in 1853 and was Gov. of Ga. 1890-94. 
On Dec. 19, 1860 he married Martha M. Neel of Mt. Zion, Hancock Co. 

Prof. Nathaniel Macon Crawford lived here and became Mercer’s 
fourth President. He was born in 1811 son of the Hon. Wm. H. Craw¬ 
ford and Susanna Girardin, he married A,nne K. Lazer. 

41. The site of Absolom Janes House 

Janes was a Mercer Trustee from 1833 until his death in 1847. He 
married Codelia Callaway, their son Dr. Thomas P. Janes lived in this 
house. The daughter Mary married the Rev. James G. Ryals, another 
daughter married R. L. McWhorter, a third daughter married James R. 
Sanders. Prof. Wm. George Woodfin married another daughter, Susan 
Helen. 

42. Mrs. L. A. Macon’s Boarding House 

Mrs. Macon’s sons, George E., ’57, Junius M., ’58 and E. H. Macon 
went to school at Mercer. Many students boarded here, among them, 
Gov. Allen Candler a Junior in 1858, Oliver Porter and J. T. Glover. 

43. Site of Male Academy Preparatory School 

The Academy was separated from Mercer in 1847 and discontinued 
in 1858. 

44. Site of Richards-Phelps House 

The Rev. Wm. C. Richards was editor of Georgia Illustrated Magazine 
and The Orion published in Penfield in 1839-40. 

45. Site of James T. Blain House 

Blain was the printer of the Christian Index and Temperance Banner, 
his sons James S. and William attended Mercer. 

46. The Nathan Hobbs House 

He was Postmaster during the Penfield and Mercer Era. 

47. The J. H. English House (On hill beyond the town) 

Many students boarded here and his three sons; H. J., H. D., and 
James N. English attended Mercer. 

48. Site of the College Baseball Diamond. 


Chapter VIII 
HISTORIC HOMES 


DREAM HAUNTED 
Ann Lovelace Gorsuch 

Down by the ivy-covered wall, where the old gate 
creaks on its one bent hinge, 

’Neath poplars and live oaks and spreading elms, 
stands the house that is haunted with dreams. 

The stone-flagged walk is choked with grass and a 
spiders web spun over the hewn oak door 

And dead leaves scuttle across the gloom—inside 
on the hall’s bare, dusty floor; 

But you hear the patter of tiny feet and the echo 
of mammy’s call, 

And the sobbing croon of her lullaby as the dusk 
begins to fall; 

Then you hear the revel of a ball and measures soft 
and slow, 

As the ghostly strains of a minuet on the night air 
ebb and flow. 

Shadows in the moonlight, and a whisper, and two figures 
blend as one— 

The lovely belle of old Virginny and Carolina’s favorite son. 


They will tell you the old house is haunted, when the 
wind in the live oak screams, 

But you only smile, for you understand that the house is haunted 
with dreams. 


262 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


263 


There are many gracious and dignified old homes of the 
Greek Revival era of the 1830’s and HO in Georgia, and Greene 
County has her share. 

The Greek Revival reached its finest development in Geor¬ 
gia about 1820 to 1850, just when the large plantations of 
cotton were at the peak. The columns of this time were mostly 
of the Doric type and were the outstanding attraction of these 
ante-bellum homes. 

Mantels, fan lights and hand carved woodwork were either 
done locally or imported from England or sometimes made by 
New England Cabinet makers. Often times a slave would de¬ 
velop great talent for this kind of work as well as carpentry, 
cabinet making and brick laying. 

Some of these old homes had elaborate marble mantels 
imported from Italy and most of the ornamental plaster ceiling 
medallions and moldings were done by Italian artisans. 

Talbot Hamlin in his book, “Greek Revival Architecture 
in America”, says, “Nowhere did the Greek revival produce a 
more perfect blending of the dignified and the gracious, the 
impressive and the domestic, than in the lovely houses of the 
1830’s and 40’s in up state Georgia. Into this Southern archi¬ 
tecture was infused a certain charm, an elusive element combined 
with stately character, a certain feeling of candlelight, romance, 
a breath of scandal, personal struggle and history in the 
making”. 

We may joke about the days of long ago, but there is still 
a feeling in this land of legends, of magnolias, camellias, fleecy 
white cotton, mint juleps and chivalry. Georgia will not and can 
not forget its past and as long as the mocking birds sing in the 
trees a nostalgia will linger with the legacies of a gentle folk. 

The architecture of Georgia in this location is distinguish¬ 
ed for the astonishing richness and variety of its achievements 


264 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Top left—Redmon Thornton Home (now in Atlanta) . Top right—Judge 
James B. Park Jr. Home in Greensboro. LoWer left—Old Cromer Home 
Union Point. Lower right—Building of Mercer at Penfield. 









HISTORY OE GREENE COUNTY 


265 


in the brief soan of years between the Revolution and the dis¬ 
astrous Civil War. 

Greene County, was once a rich plantation section of Geor¬ 
gia and many lovely old homes have either burned or fallen into 
decay or are occupied by tenants. 

The people of that golden era enjoyed a great measure of 
culture and good living. The elaborate weddings, barbecues, 
dances and dinners as well as the political gatherings give us a 
picture of this part of the state. 

THORNTON HOUSE 

The old Redman Thornton House at Union Point is a 
clapboard and brick home that has weathered about 180 years. 
It was purchased and moved to Atlanta in 1959 by the Atlanta 
Art Association and reassembled on the museum grounds at 
1280 Peachtree St. 

The Thornton House was described by an Atlanta archi¬ 
tect as “the finest existing late Georgian house in this part of 
the state”. Built around 1780, the Thornton House has been in 
the hands of only two families, the Thorntons and the Carltons 
and has been occupied until the last few years. This type house 
goes back beyond the White Column period. The double chim¬ 
neys on the right hand side rival any 18th century construction 
in the country. They are connected by a closet with an outside 
door. Servants could bring food from the yard and put it in the 
closet on a shelf where heat from the chimneys would keep it 
warm. In the dining room was another door where another ser¬ 
vant could reach in and get the food and place it on the table. 
Used dishes vcere placed in the same place and removed from 
the outside, washed up and brought back shining clean. (The 
early dishwasher, forerunner of todays electric.) 

This is the only house in Ga. built in a medieval style called 
“nogging”. It looks like a frame house, but after the upright 
timbers were in place they were filled with bricks which were 
plastered inside and covered outside with clapboard. It’s a rare 
construction in America. The house has elegant details, fine 


260 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


doors, moldings, mantels and chimneys. The original paint is 
still on the upstairs bedrooms. The dadoes in the hall, drawing 
room and downstairs bedrooms are grained to simulate marble. 

At Colonial Williamsburg the room of graining is con¬ 
sidered the prize room in the whole Rockefeller Museum. Here, 
there’s a whole house done in graining. 

The 12 “sitting chairs” mentioned in Thornton’s will are 
still in the possession of his descendants. A half round walnut 
table of his has been located and is now in the restored house. 
His old secretary bookcase, has been replaced in the home. 

William H. Crawford’s old sideboard of mahogany and a 
fine portrait by Chas. Wilson Peale adorn the dining room. 

The chimneys have plaster neckbands at the top and rows 
of pointed brickwork. 

Nearby this home in early times was the well-house, t u e 
springhouse, the smokehouse, the woodshed, the weaving and 
spinning room, the dairy house and the old outhouse. At some 
distance away were the rows of tidy slave cabins with prim yards 
swept by dogwood brush brooms and edged with “winter pinks”, 
and snow on the mountain plants. 

OAK HILL 

Situated five miles northwest of Greensboro is “Oak Hill” 
the home of Judge Thomas Stocks. This house is Colonial in 
style built between 1800 and 1820. There is a porch across the 
front and two sides of the house and at one time it was the pride 
of the owner, as well as Greene County. 

The house stood on a hill and the spacious lawn had large 
trees, oaks, hickory, mimosa, cedar, and I have counted twenty 
magnolia trees. There was a brick wall with a gate in the center 
and to one side the flower garden of lemon verbena, gardenias, 
banksia and malmason roses. The front graveled walk was bor¬ 
dered with boxwood and also the formal flower garden on the 
order of Mt. Vernon, on the east side of the house. To the west 
side was the bulb garden with its tulips, buttercups, daffodils, 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


267 


grape hyacinths and Roman hyacinths. The flower gardens and 
lawn covered about e’ght acres and on the south side were the 
pink crepe myrtles. 

The place was so terraced as to prevent erosion of the soil. 

The interior of the house has the wide hand-hewn boards, 
and chip carved mantels, with ceiling medallions and recessed 
windows and high ceilings. 

There is little left now of its beauty and lovely gardens, 
and tenants have occupied it for years. 


NEESON HOUSE 

This letter is written by Miss Rosa Neeson of Washington, 
Ga. who lived near Penfield in the days when Mercer University 
flourished there. I quote : 


“We lived near Penfield in an old square white house with a 
porch in front which was hung with honeysuckle vines. On either side 
of the porch were large trellis’ with “George the Fourth”, roses. When 
in bloom they were a purplish red and the fragrance most delightful. 
Out to the side of the house were weeping willow roses, mourning 
brides roses anl bridal wreath spireas.” 

“Before the house stretched a long walk which went to the 
white paling fence. In the late afternoons my mother and father sat on 
the porch and watched the children play. There' were five of us and 
two cousins living with us and sometimes little Negroes and visitors 
playing games. Our favorite game was, “Molly, Molly Bright, Can I 
get there by candle light? Yes, if your legs are long enough, And the 
old witch doesn’t catch you. Then came the wild rush to the old gate. 
There was the game of “Boogerman”, and “Base”, and hiding. 

I love to think of my home at the sunset. Out to one side were 
the buggies and carriages and back of them the pines tall and majestic 
outlined against the red sky. There was the carriage house and in it 
the carriage that had the steps that let down and the red curtains 
hanging on .'the inside, the best hiding place of all. In this we all rode 
to church on Sundays. I can smell the flowers now as the evening sun 
went down, the moss roses and the yellow rose of Texas as well as 
the cascades of wisteria over the well house. 

My old home burned many years ago but it will always live 
in my memory. 


268 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THE LINDSEY — DURHAM PLACE 

This was the home of one of the noted physicians of Geor¬ 
gia at that time. This house stands back from the road where 
the road to the huge porch is bordered by large crepe-myrtle 
trees. On either hand were huge oaks forming a dense shade. 
Step on to the porch and see the beautiful doorway with many 
panes of beveled edge glass in a semicircle above. The papering 
in the parlor was imported from England and is as tough as 
parchment and depicts hunting and pastoral scenes around the 
room and on up the wall by the staircase. The figures are so 
lifelike they seem to be brushed on by a great artist. The pale 
sky of the paper reaches to the ceiling and although it has seen 
many people come and go it is still beautiful with few torn places 
or soiled ones. 

Old Dr. Lindsey had patients from other states as well as 
for many miles around and he built an infirmary for them. He 
became quite wealthy and planted a botannical garden of several 
acres, with trees and shrubs from other lands. This was a lush 
and extravagant hobby, for the servants had to water by hand 
the many tropical plants, and he would propogate the ones he 
liked best by his own methods. 

After Dr. Durham’s death, the garden soon deteriorated 
and the house as well, but it is still outstanding as you may see 
by the picture. 

Greensboro (Ga.) Herald 
Thursday, January 7, 1875 


DAVIS RESIDENCE 

“Mr. C. A. Davis, banker, of our city, has near completion, one 
of the most convenient and desirable residences to be found in the 
State. It is of brick manufactured at his own brick yard, within the 
corporate limits of the city. 

“Messrs Fay & Bruin are the architects. Cook, Grumby & Com¬ 
pany, the contractors and builders. A. W. Stroupe, superintendent; 
D. A. McDuffie & Brother, plasterers; Hunnicutt & Bellingrath, 
plumbers; John Mason, painter; all of Atlanta. 

The house is forty-one by ninety-one feet long, which includes the 
library and kitchen. The rooms on the first floor are parlor, library, 
sitting room, dining room, nursery, family room, kitchen, servant’s 
room, bathroom, store room, and butler’s pantry. The parlor and prin- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


269 



Charles A. Davis Home, Greensboro. Jefferson Hall, before restoration at 
Union Point 1820. Jefferson Hall, after restoration. 








270 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


cipal rooms are 16 x 18 feet excepting the library which is octagonal, 
finished off on the eight sides with shelving and glass doors, and closet 
doors below, all of black walnut. 

“The house is built in Italian style with Terra Cotta cornice over 
the windows and ornamented cornice under the eaves, which are pro¬ 
jecting and bracketed, ornamented cresting on comb of the roof, which 
is of slate. Double box-head frame windows to the library, above and 
below, and over the front door. Veranda front and south side thirty 
eight feet, and on the north side fifty-four feet, double columns in a 
space every seven feet: flooring of veranda 2-1/2 inches by 1-1/2 
inches thick; mansard roof to veranda and crested. Front door has 
double shutters, opening into a recess vestibule, which has glass panel 
doors opening into a hall twelve feet wide by forty-five feet long: a 
a grand platform stair case to the second story. The back piazza and 
veranda are 12 x 26 feet and contains the well supplying the premises 
with water. A double force pump fills a tank of 300 gallons in the 
garret under the roof. Windows on first story open to the floor, each 
lower sash has two panes, double thick glass, 31 x 40 inches; upper 
sash one pane of same size—sash hung by weights. Slate mantles and 
grates on lower floor. Walls hard finished throughout with cornice in 
three rooms and in entry. There are five chambers on the second floor 
with the bathroom. Every chamber in the house has a stationary 
marble-top black walnut washstand supplied with hot and cold water: 
all the rooms except the parlor have closets. All the woodwork was 
done in Atlanta, and the doors, sash, and blinds, are all made of Geor¬ 
gia white pine. Ground broken for foundations August 19th, walls 
finished and roof on October 6th, 1874. 

“We have watched the progress of this building with much inter¬ 
est and pleasure and have been delighted with the extreme care with 
which every part has been put together. The superintendent, Mr. 
Stroupe, has earned additional laurels in his extreme fastidiousness in 
having every part to the minutest particular done exactly as it should 
be, and never have we seen it excelled.” (Now owned by Mrs. M. E. 
Sisk.) 


JEFFERSON HAFL 

Near Union Point, not far from the Georgia railroad cross¬ 
ing is Jefferson Hall, a beautifully proportioned house with tall 
Ionic columns. This was built in 1820 by Lemuel Green, who 
sold it to Thomas Brooks Hart of Augusta. Mr. Hart used 
this as a summer home and the railroad trains later obligingly 
stopped at the front door when the family traveled. In 1857 the 
place was sold to Ransom Harwell and remained in this family 
for many years. Next to own the place were Mr. and Mrs. 
Clem Gunn. 

As you walk in between the tall slim columns you se° the 
beautiful fan light over the front door and see overhead the 
balcony with hand turned bannisters around it. Inside you see 
the wide hall with the rooms on either side and the lovely stair. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


271 



■: : 

- ' \ 




Top left—Paradise Hill, Greensboro. Top right—Old rock jail built about 
1806 and still standing. Lower left—Ruins of the Thomas P. Janes Home, 
the first Sec. of Agriculture in Ga. Center right—Thornton House, Union 

Point. 













272 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


It is easy to imagine the hoopskirted ladies descending this stair 
in the plantation days of Greene County. No doubt this place 
was the scene of much entertaining and gallantry and the atmos¬ 
phere of the place no less than the architecture seems to deter¬ 
mine the strong character of it. 

PARADISE HILL 

This is probably the most historic house in Greensboro and 
in the early 1800’s was a showplace in the town. A white two 
story sturdily built structure with four Ionic columns on the 
front porch and green shutters at the many windows surrounded 
by great green trees which cast their shadows back and forth as 
the winds blew. It was a haven on a hot summer day. 

The first owner of the land was Robert Dale, a merchant 
and Postmaster in the town who sold it to John Clark, Pres, of 
the Trustees of the University of Ga. in 1805, who sold it to 
Nicholas Lewis. On Dec. 22, 1818 Lewis sold the property to 
Charles A. and Elizabeth Redd who it is thought built the 
house. This house was sold later to Senator Thomas W. Cobb 
of Oglethorpe County. After Judge Cobb’s death U. S. Senator 
William Dawson bought the home and made many improve¬ 
ments. When the house was remodeled it had 20 large rooms 
and a wine cellar in the basement. After Senator Dawson’s 
death, Oliver Porter bought the place who later sold it to Phillip 
Clayton of Clarke County in 1859. He was appointed Sec. of 
the Lb S. Treasury in the absence of Sen. Cobb from Ga. Later 
he was minister to Peru and his son Robert succeeded him. The 
last member of the Clayton family to own this home was Miss 
Maude Townsend. This home was used as a hospital in 1865. 
The last owner is Mrs. C. L. Rhodes. 

THE PARK HOME 

The Park home was once a tavern and inn and the road in 
front was once the road called Seven Islands highway extending 
from New Orleans to Philadelphia. This home witnessed the 
passing of the Indians, it rested many weary travelers, and sur¬ 
vived floods, fire, Sherman’s troops and sheltered Pres, of the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


273 



James B. Park, Sr. Home (now in Morgan Co. Fred White, owner) The 
room where Pres, of the Confederacy slept May 5, 1865. 
















274 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. The big house at Park’s Mill is 
still sturdy after 150 years. James Edrington Parks built the 
house in 1821 and also built a mill, and a toll bridge across the 
Oconee, and sons and sons-in-law built grist mills, three stores, 
saloons and a blacksmith shop. In 1840 floods swept away the 
bridge and Park built a ferry. The old house has pegged walls 
and was ballasted with brick between the walls to keep the 
flooding river from washing it away. There are two long ram¬ 
bling porches as you may see in the picture as well as many 
rooms and there were many well trained servants. There is a 
total of eleven rooms, the rafters are heavy and hand hewn, the 
mantels are simple but beautiful with designs of the rising sun 
cut on them. The dining room is paneled in walnut. In the room 
where Pres. Jefferson Davis slept are wide smooth boards and 
a fireplace. There are two sharply curving stairways leading to 
the upstairs. This is a typical gabled, house of its era. 

Only the stone foundation of the old mill is left now and 
the land of the Parks spread across the river. As you stand on 
the old Seven Bridges road, now a dead end road, you can 
imagine the thriving community and the settlement as it looked 
to the stagecoach drivers a century ago. Mr. and Mrs. Fred 
White now own the place and have added modern conveniences 
and their children enjoy swimming in the nearby Oconee river. 
“White Columns in Ga.” mentions Mr. and Mrs. Ed Askew as 
owners of a “Park House,” on the other side of the river and 
her grandfather, Dr. Park, built this home. 


HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS 

At Union Point is “Hawthorne Heights” so named because 
of the thick hawthorne hedge surrounding the eight acre garden. 
The house is impressive Greek revival and owned by Mr. and 
Mrs. Harold Lamb. In the garden stands one of the tea bushes 
sent to Washington from Japan by Commodore Perry when he 
opened the ports of that country in 1854. Nearly aU of the fine 
old furniture in the house has a history. Several of the upstairs 
bedrooms are unchanged since they were furnished by brides of 
different generations. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


275 


Top—Hawthorne Heights. Right center—Cunningham Home (Mrs. P. A. 
Colhepp) . Left center—Davis-Rice Home—1797 Greensboro. Bottom—P. 

F. Merritt Home, 1954. 














276 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Here were reared the Harts and the Sibleys. The sons and 
daughters of Mrs. Jennie Hart Sibley were also reared here. 
Mrs. Harold Lamb a daughter of Mrs. Jennie Hart Sibley col¬ 
lected fine antiques and added to the ones her mother and father 
had bought while traveling abroad and unlike most old homes 
the place has improved with age and is still the most beautiful 
in Greene Co. 


CUNNINGHAM HOME 

This home was owned by one of the Cunningham brothers 
but when Robert 'Wheeler bought the place he had the house 
turned around to face the next extension of Main Street. The 
home is one of the outstanding ante-bellum places of the county 
and was later bought by Mrs. P. A. Cohlhepp. There were two 
Cunningham brothers who built homes in the 1818’s and both 
are now standing, the other one is owned by C. W. Smith. 

THE MERRITT HOME 

The Merritt home was built by W. G. Johnson in 1854 and 
is a handsome structure, on the same block was built the E. A. 
Copelan home in about 1880. These homes were surrounded by 
large trees and beautiful gardens and are still used even though 
progress has pushed out the large gardens and lawns, the homes 
stand to remind us of, “The Gone With the Wind”, country. 
(Owned by the Merritts and Copelands for over 100 years.) 

OTHER OLD HOMES 

There were many other homes in Greene County that the 
older citizens recall. The W. G. Armor home, the Dr. H. H. 
King home built in 1820, W. W. D. Weaver built a substantial 
home where Judge W. M. Weaver lived also. The Jonas Fauche 
house, the Spinks house, John Colt (1800), the Thomas 
Morgan house, the Nickelson home and old Judge Godkin’s 
home. Capt. in the Confederate army was W. H. Branch who 
lost an arm in the battle of Antetiam and had built an attractive 
home across from Judge Godkin’s in 1845. The Nicholas home, 
now the Radford’s home was moved across the railroad when 
Judge Lewis built his home. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


277 



Top right—Dr. Walker’s Home (Old Williams Home) Left center—Old 
Vincent Home. Right center, Cunningham Home owned by C. W. Smith. 
Lower left—Nicholas-Radford Home. 












278 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THE CHAPPEL HOME 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Thompson was built by 
a Mr. Chappel before the Ga. railroad was built in 1833-37. He 
was a rock-cutter and is said to have made rock window sills in 
the house and stone steps. He had a large apple orchard which 
the school boys delighted in robbing until Chappel caught one 
up the tree and gave him a good thrashing. 

Across from Calvin Thompson’s home stood the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Robinson which was built in the 1840’s. 
The B. F. Green’s home stood near these and Mr. Green will be 
remembered as saying, “A turkey is an inconvenient fowl, a little 
too much for one to eat and not enough for two”. He liked to 
eat and was a large heavy man. 

Judge Cone owned a fine home on the corner of East and 
North Streets which was destroyed by fire about 1878. 

Green Thompson built a home before the War on the 
corner of Greene and Walnut Streets, and it is now owned by 
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harrison. 

The Story home and the Vincent home were both torn 
down many years ago. Judge Durham was an honored citizen of 
Greensboro and built his home near the Richter house and later 
sold it to Mrs. Stevens. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin 
Markwalter was built at the corner of Broad and Walnut 
Streets. At the corner of South Street stood the home of Nich¬ 
olas Lewis, a lawyer and pioneer citizen of Greensboro. When 
the old chimneys were torn down several had the date of 1797 
on them. It was a two storied house and was owned later by 
Samuel Davis in the 1830’s. This house later belonged to Mrs. 
T. B. Rice. 

The Foster home was built by Dr. Thomas Foster and 
here Bishop Geo. Foster Pierce’s mother was born. 

DR. JOHN E. WALKER HOME 

At the east end of South Street Dr. John E. Walker built 
h’s home for his bride, Mary E. Gaston after their wedding in 
1849. He lived here all of his life and his daughter, Mrs. Tor- 


HISTORY OF GREENS COUNTY 


219 




Top—Copeland-Evans Home, Greensboro. Bottom—Davis-Evans Home 

Greensboro. 











280 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


bert inherited the home. The attractive home is now owned by 
Carey J. Williams. 


EVANS-DAVIS HOME 

This home was built for William S. Davis by Wiley G. 
Johnson about 1858 and is now owned by Mrs. J. W. Evans and 
prior to this, owned by H. T. Evans. For over 100 years only 
two families have owned this place. The house has two stories 
and a basement. On either side of the front door is found Bo¬ 
hemian glass sidelights in grape design. The overhanging roof 
of the house has delicate carved woodwork underneath the 
eaves. In the hallway, which is broad, there are ceiling decorations 
of handsome design as well as the two formal rooms. The day¬ 
light basetent has a large fireplace and seems to keep the in¬ 
terior cool in summer. Note in the picture the large columns 
and shutters at the windows. 

THE COPELAND-EVANS HOME 

This home is next to the Merritt house and is very old, 
having many gables and one floor. It was probably built about 
1854, and is still in good condition. 


Chapter IX 


EARLY PERSONAGES 

MOSES WADDEL 

Moses Waddel a famous teacher and preacher was born 
in N. C. July 29, 1770. He acquired an education the hard 
way, by walking long distances, with few books and only the 
encouragement of his parents and his thirst for knowledge 
kept him going. 

After teaching for a short time in N. C., he and his par¬ 
ents moved to Greene County, Ga. He became interested in 
religion and on the advice of Dr. John Springer he entered 
Hampden-Sidney and graduated in one year. He preached at 
Carmel in Ga. and taught school all week. He moved to the 
Calhoun settlement in S. C. and here he met and married 
Catherine Calhoun the sister of the famous John C. Catherine 
lived only four years and then Waddel married Elizabeth 
Pleasants of Virginia and moved to Vienna, S. C. 

In 1819 Dr. Moses Waddel was elected Pres, of the 
University of Georgia. The institution was at a low ebb hav¬ 
ing only seven students but with the prestige of Waddel the 
number soon increased to 100. 

Many of the famous men of Ga. went to school here and 
under his tutelage felt honored to walk at his side on many 
occasions. 

After ten years of active work he returned to Willington, 
S. C. where he hoped to spend a quiet old age. He died at the 
home of his son Jamis P. Waddel in 1840. Possibly no teach¬ 
er has set a finer example, nor any preacher led a truer life 
than Moses Waddel. 

RICHARD HENRY WILDE 

Richard Henry Wilde was a poet, statesman and a scholar 
coming to Augusta, Ga. from Baltimore. He studied with his 
mother and later a fine lawyer, Joseph Hutchinson and came 


281 


282 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


to Greene County to stand the bar examination. He was not 
of legal age but his knowledge brought forth commendation 
from the Bench and Bar. 

By hard work and study he was by 1811 the Attorney 
General of the State of Ga. In 1815-17 he served in the 14th 
Congress with such men as Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and 
Henry Pinckney. 

In 1818 Wilde married Mrs. Caroline Buckle who died 
in 1827 leaving several children. Henry Wilde in 1824 suc¬ 
ceeded T. W. Cobb in Congress. He was a Whig, bitterly op¬ 
posed to Andrew Jackson’s removal of deposits from State 
banks and actions concerning the S. C. nullification dispute. 
Wilde was an important figure in politics for many years and 
also wrote poems and was a man of letters. He wrote, “My 
Life is Like the Summer Rose” and “ The Captive’s Lament” 
and others. At one time Wilde taught law at Tulane Univer¬ 
sity and traveled abroad for several years. He died of yellow 
fever in New Orleans, later his body was moved to Magnolia 
Cemetery in Augusta. 

CHARLES ALFRED DAVIS 

Charles Alfred Davis Sr. born in the “Crackerneck” sec¬ 
tion of Greene Co. Ga. on August 4th, 1820 was the son of 
William and Amy Ransom Davis from Ransom’s Bridge, N. C. 
and the son of Samuel Davis b. 1787-d. 1875 and Mary An- 
geline Gant, 1797-1866. 

Charles A. Davis, Sr. married Amanda Swift of Morgan 
Co. Ga. and their children were: Charles Alfred Davis Jr. 
b. 1850 and married Emily Sanders Willett of Macon, Thomas 
Samuel Davis, Mary Amanda Davis who married W. R. Jack- 
son and had ten children. 

Charles Alfred Davis Sr. was a very successful mechant 
and spent his whole life in Greensboro, Ga. He amassed a 
fortune. His business was known as Davis and Bro. and later 
Davis and Son. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


283 


Charles Davis had a trade area of forty miles around. 
He served during the Civil War as a Confederate soldier and 
came back to his “Big Store” after the war having lost about 
all that he had made. He re-established connections with the 
firms in New York with which he had done business and soon 
had his store stocked and was making money again. 

For years he lived in the old brick residence on Main St. 
which was once a branch bank of the State of Ga. Later he 
built a large home in the northwestern Greensboro which still 
stands. He was a deacon in the Baptist church for many years 
and a faithful member. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had nine children; 
Mary Davis Jackson, Edwin Davis, Mrs. Lucie I. Stevens of 
Gainesville, Mrs. Cora D. Cleckly of Augusta, Mrs. Victoria 
D. Seals, Charles A. Davis and Oscar Davis of Atlanta, Ga. 

EDWARD A. CO PEL AN 

Edward A. Copelan was born in Greene Co. Ga. August 
8, 1849 and was clerk for Charles A. Davis Sr., “the mer¬ 
chant prince”. Copelan married Leila Davis, daughter of Wm. 
S. Davis the bro. of Charles A. Davis. They had three chil¬ 
dren, a son, Annie and Mary. 

Edward Copelan opened a private bank which years lat¬ 
er became the Copelan National Bank. He bought the Statham 
Hotel property and he and Wm. R. Jackson subscribed over 
half the capital stock for a much needed industry the Mary— 
Leila Cotton Mill. 

Thomas Flournoy Foster, was a noted lawyer and legislator 
of the ante-bellum days. He was sent to Congress while a 
resident of Greene Co. He afterward lived in Columbus. 

Miles W. Lewis, long a member of the General Assembly 
of Ga. lived here. 

R. L. McWhorter, was for many years a power in politics 
in the State, as was Hon. Hamilton McWhorter, who was born 
in Greene Co. 

Julius C. Alford, a member of Congress and was called, 
“The old war horse of Troup,” spent his boyhood in Greene. 


284 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BENJAMIN WEAVER 

Benjamin Weaver, a Revolutionary soldier who served in 
a North Carolina Regiment had a record of bravery and 
gallantry in battle and participated in numerous engagements. 
He married Elizabeth Daniel from Va. and N. C. daughter 
of John W. Daniel of Va. Two sons were born to the Wea¬ 
vers, William Wiley Daniel and Travis Archibald. The first 
son remained in Greene Co. and the latter moved to Upson 
Co. 

The Weavers were prominent in Greene Co. for 100 
years. After the death of Judge Weaver in 1905 the old home 
was broken up. 

JUDGE THOMAS STOCKS 1786-1876 

Three days before Greene County was carved from Wash¬ 
ington County and three years before Gen. George Washington 
was elected President of the United States, Thomas Stocks 
was born in a fort near the Oconee River below Scull Shoals. 
His father Isaac Stocks was a Revolutionary soldier and set¬ 
tled on the lands ceded by the Indians that became Wilkes 
County in 1773. After the Revolution Isaac Stocks (d. 1804) 
married a daughter of Gen. Stephen Heard and when Washing¬ 
ton County was laid out in 1784, Isaac Stocks moved his 
family into that part of Washington which was cut off to make 
Greene County in 1786. 

In order to protect his family from the Indian raids he 
built a strong fort near his home and it was in this fort that 
Thomas Stocks was born. The legislature was meeting in Au¬ 
gusta and at this session the Act was passed creating Greene 
County. Thomas Stocks was born three days too soon to claim 
the distinction of being the first white child born in the new 
county. 

Thomas Stocks so distinguished himself in many lines 
of endeavor that his life should be an inspiration to every 
boy and a rebuke to selfish politicans. Isaac died a few years 
after Thomas was born and the boy had to assume the respon¬ 
sibility of looking after his mother and younger brothers and 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


285 


sisters. He attended school only six months but he became a 
self-educated man and was a power in Georgia politics for 
many years. He was one of the founders of the Ga. Baptist 
Convention, Mercer University, Georgia’s first state fair, and 
the first Agricultural Society. He was Judge of the county’s 
Inferior Court. Pres, of the Ga. Senate for many years and a 
Commissioner for Ga. in establishing the boundary line be¬ 
tween Ga .and Tenn. in 1818. 

He was the only Georgian who ever elected a Governor 
by his single vote. This man was Gov. George M. Troup. 
There was a clash between the Clark and Troup factions al¬ 
though Talbot was Troup’s opponent in the race. Clark had 
had a duel with William H. Crawford and so the latters 
friends threw their support to Troup. The vote of the joint 
session of the House and Senate resulted in a tie and Thomas 
Stocks broke the tie and elected Troup for Gov. of Ga. 

Thomas Stocks and his mother attended old Shiloh Baptist 
Church in 1832 near Penfield. He walked along beside his 
mother as she rode the horse on the trail and he carried a 
gun on his shoulder as protection against the Indians. Pickets 
were posted during the services so as to prevent a surprise In¬ 
dian attack. The church had over 400 members. Some were 
later outstanding men such as; William Reid, Oliver Porter, 
William Moncrief, Thomas Stocks, and preachers were: Syl- 
vanus Landrum, Adiel Sherwood, Dr. N. M. Crawford, and 
others equally important. 

Thomas Stocks first married Cynthia Coffee, daughter 
of Gen. Coffee of the War of 1812, after her death he mar¬ 
ried Frances A. Davis of Greensboro daughter of Samuel 
Davis and aunt of Chas. A. and Oscar Davis and Mrs. V. D. 
Seals of Atlanta. Thomas Stocks had no children but his 
achievements should live in Ga. history. 

Isaac Stocks, father of Thomas Stocks married Catherine 
Heard who was the daughter of Thomas Heard b. 1742-1808 
and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, b. 1750-1790. He married 2nd 
Mary Veasey dau. of James Veasey. Isaac Stocks, a Rev. Sol. 
b. 1767-1807, his ch. by Catherine were: Thomas b. 1786, 
John, Elizabeth and William. 


286 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Thomas Stocks was a Mason of the St. Marino Lodge 
No. 28. of Greensboro, Ga. He helped to educate more than 
50 boys and girls from his own funds. A school building 
erected in 1880 was named the Thomas Stocks Institute. 
Thomas went by stagecoach in 1832 to a triennial convention of 
the Baptist and while there he was a guest in the home of 
Wm. Colgate the founder of Colgate Soap Mfg. While he was 
in New York he rode on his first steamboat and train. The 
population then was 200,000 His diary of this trip is in the 
possession of Mrs. T. B. Ricce of Greensboro. John Stocks, 
his brother married Nancy Fitzpatrick in 1809, a sister Eliza¬ 
beth married Aaron Bledsoe in 1807. 

Thomas Stocks lived a full life and died at his beautiful 
home, “Oak Hill’ within sight of the fort in which he was 
born. 

From Thomas Stocks Bible—Thomas Stocks b. Feb. 1, 
1786, Cynthia Coffee Stocks b. Feb. 5, 1791, Frances, Ann 
Maria Davis b. June 6, 1822, Thomas Stocks mar. Cynthia 
Coffee Oct. 27, 1807, Mar. Fannie A. Davis Nov. 26, 1848, 
Cynthia died Nov. 2, 1847, Thomas died Oct. 6 1876, Fannie 
A. Stocks died, Sept. 5, 1898. Thomas is buried in the Greens¬ 
boro cemetery between the two wives. 

ELIJAH CLARKE 

Elijah Clarke was not a citizen of Greene County, how¬ 
ever his Trans-Oconee Republic so affected the growth of the 
county in its early days that I shall give an account of this as 
an influence on the county’s early growth. Clarke was known 
in the county and often seen there. 

Elijah Clarke was a Major-General in the Georgia Mili¬ 
tia and served his country well in the Revolutionary War. Then 
he dreamed of setting up a Republic of his own and did so on 
the south side of the Oconee River. Greene County had about 
100 miles of territory facing the opposite side of the river be¬ 
fore Hancock County was cut out in Dec. 1793 and Oconee 
County formed in 1794. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


287 


Clarke’s Trans-Oconee Republic was a constant menace 
to lives and property and greatly retarded the development 
of this land for a while. He built blockhouses and the cut¬ 
throats and thieves would go over the river and terrorize the 
citizens of Greene and use rough tactics to get good citizens to 
join up with him, and sad to relate some of them did, hoping 
to gain more land and some of the profits. With Indians and 
Clarke’s men raiding, Green County citizens spent many sleep¬ 
less nights 

Clarke tried to establish a separate and independent gov¬ 
ernment on lands allotted to the Indians for hunting grounds 
within the boundaries and jurisdictional rights of the State of 
Georgia, and he had induced numbers of good citizens as well 
as exploiters to join him. 

Gov. Matthews of Ga. issued a proclamation against 
Gen. Clarke warning him and forbidding any citizen of Ga. 
to join him and engage in such unlawful proceedings and he 
strictly commanded all judges, justices and sheriffs and other 
officers to be diligent in assisting to apprehend the said Elijah 
Clarke and his adherents in order that they should be brought 
to justice. 

Soon after this Gen. Clarke appeared in Wilkes County 
and surrendered himself to the authorities. He was tried and 
by unanimous consent by the jury he was acquitted. This made 
Clarke bolder, so he went right back to his Republic, feeling 
guilty of no offense and expanded his operations. 

Then the President authorized the Governor to call out 
the State militia and Federal troops if necessary in order to 
disperse the Trans-Oconee Republic. Lt. Col. Gaither of the 
U. S. Army was to head the Federals. Gov. Matthews sent 
Gen. Twiggs and Irwin to warn Clarke and to read the Pre¬ 
sident’s order but he refused to give up his dream of an inde¬ 
pendent Republic. 

Troops, both State and Federal concentrated their forces 
at Fort Fidius, on the Oconee and Clarke seeing that they 
meant business, knew that now his dream was shattered so he 
marched out with his followers and the State troops took poss- 


288 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ession of the place and burned Fort Defiance and the settle¬ 
ment to the ground, completely demolishing it. On Oct. 12, 
1794 Gov. Matthews informed the Sec. of War that the Trans- 
Oconee Republic was destroyed without loss of blood. 

Gen. Clarke was not molested and was forgiven and even 
honored by his State because of his past record of serving his 
country well. 

Aaron Burr at one time tried to do the same thing but 
was interrupted before he got established and was dishonored 
by the nation. Burr passed through Greene Co. and spent the 
night here while he was under arrest, being carried from New 
Orleans to New York for trial. Some of Burrs’ relatives are 
buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

JOEL EARLY 

Joel Early, Sr. came from Virginia to Wilkes County and 
then to Greene County. He was in the list of Headright gran¬ 
tees and it shows that he received 1,000 acres of land on the 
Oconee river in 1803-6. Other records attest to the fact that 
he must have been here since 1784-5. In Lucian Lamar Knight’s 
book he says, “Joel Early’s Manor was the finest house north 
of Savannah and he lives in the style of an English Lord.” 
Tradition says that he required his sons and daughters to don 
evening clothes each day for six o’clock dinner. 

Under the terms of his will none of his sons were to come 
into full possession of his property until they reached the age 
of 45 years. If this will was carried out, his oldest son, Peter 
Early who was once Governor of Ga., died when he was 45 and 
so probably did not fully possess his legacy. 

It is thought that Joel Early died in December 1806 as 
this was when the will was probated with Joel Early, Jr. as 
one of the executors. Both Clementine and Eleazer were dis¬ 
inherited for some reason. The minutes of the Greene Co. 
Inferior court 1799-1816 show where Joel Early, Jr. made 
application for letters of administration on the estate of Jere¬ 
miah Early, and on the same date George Watkins, husband 
of Polly Early Watkins (co-author of Watkin’s Digest of Ga. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


289 


Laws from 1733-1800) made application on the estate of 
Clementine Early. What malady could have caused the death 
of these two young men of Joel Early? Did they commit sui¬ 
cide? Peter Early also was listed as dead Nov. 1, 1824. 

Eleazer Early the son left and also disinherited, was the 
author and publisher of one of the best maps of early Georgia. 
Joel Early, Jr. was a wealthy Greene County farmer. His 
plantation of 5,000 acres started at the town limit of Greens¬ 
boro and extended to near the Oconee river, joining the lands 
of Thomas Stocks and Col. Richard Willis. 

For many years before the Civil War Joel Early had 
pronounced views on slave ownership. He called in over a 
hundred slaves and asked them if they wanted to be free and 
if they would like to go back to Africa. He also would fur¬ 
nish transportation and give each one $100.00 Only forty of 
these slaves accepted the offer. Joel Early chartered a vessel 
from Norfolk, Va. and the forty slaves sailed with his $100.00 
and belongings from Norfolk to Liberia, Africa. 

One of the number who chose to go to Africa was a 
house-boy who had been taught to read and write. This boy 
acted as a leader of the migrants and he wrote to Mr. Early 
from time to time. African fever and diseases took a heavy 
toll as well as the tribal wars. Those who survived became 
very dissatisfied and begged to be returned to their former 
master and slavery. Under the existing laws this could not 
be done. Finally the slave boys letters ceased, still begging to 
return. Joel Early took this to mean that the boy had also 
died. Now this troubled him greatly, he said that in trying to 
do what he thought was right that perhaps he had done the 
wrong thing. Joel sought relief from his anxiety in drinking, 
which is borne out by the fact that the minutes of the Greens¬ 
boro Baptist church show where he was charged with over 
indulgence many times. He was excluded, forgiven and restor¬ 
ed to membership repeatedly, but at his death was non-affiliat- 
ed. Stones gave this data on this family: Jeremiah Early mar¬ 
ried Eliza Cunningham on Oct. 15, 1806. Clementine Early 
married Frances Terrell, Dec. 24, 1811. George Watkins mar- 


290 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ried Polly Early December 26, 1801. Charles L. Matthews 
married Lucy Early January 3, 1807. In 1957 the once fine 
home is still standing. James Byrnes owns the place, Gatewood 
Baynes, Mrs. F. L. Toney and Mrs. E. G. Adams owns parts 
of the original farm. 


PETER EARLY 

On a modest headstone that marked the grave is this 
inscription: “Here lies the body of Peter Early who died on the 
15th of August, 1817 in the 45th year of his life.” He was 
buried on the banks of the Oconee but later his remains were 
moved to Greensboro cemetery by the side of his brother 
Joel Early, Jr. The remains of his widow were also placed by 
Peter Early. The inscription reads:” Sacred to the memory of 
Ann Adams Sherwood, consort of Rev. Adiel Sherwood. She 
was born in Bedford, Va. in 1783 and died Nov. 1822. De- 
lecta dum vixit Memorabilis in Mortu.” 

Three years after Peter Early died, his widow, married 
Rev. Adiel Sherwood, May 17, 1821 and one month later 
Sherwood and Rev. Jesse Mercer came to Greensboro and with 
a few members from Shiloh and White Plains Baptistt church¬ 
es, they organized the Greensboro Baptist church with Rev. 
Adiel Sherwood as its first pastor. 

Sherwood was a protege of Jesse Mercer. The “old fath¬ 
er” of Mercer University took the young man under his wing, 
and had him ordained in old Bethseda church, later performed 
the ceremony when he married the rich, pretty widow of Peter 
Early. Ann Adams Early Sherwood lived only a year after her 
second marriage and the child she bore Sherwood died too, and 
is buried by her side. 

Sherwood became guardian for the Peter Early children. 
There were: Augustus, Cynthia, Alexander, Thomas and Fran¬ 
ces. Alexander was educated in Washington City, Thomas went 
to college there also, Cynthia went to school in Madison, Ga., 
Frances went to New Hope Academy, (five miles beyond 
Greshamville). 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


291 


Clementine Early a brother of Peters’ married Frances 
Terrell on Dec. 24, 1811. Her father’s hotel stood on the spot 
where Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Smith now live (1957). Mrs. Earl- 
ly’s home was destroyed by fire on Jan. 20, 1821. 

Peter Early was Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit before 
becoming Governor of Georgia. He attended Lexington gram¬ 
mar school and later Princeton University where he delivered 
the salutatory, “Sympathy”. After striding law with Mr. Inger- 
soll in Philadelphia he came back to Georgia and practiced law 
in Wilkes County in 1786. His competitors at the bar were: 
Thos. P. Carnes, John M. Dooley, John Griffin, Wm. H. 
Crawford, Robert Watkins and George Walker. In 1802 he 
was elected a member of Congress to succeed John Milledge 
who had resigned to become Gov. of Georgia. Aaron Burr was 
Vice Pres, and John Randolph of Roanoke preferred charges 
against Samuel Chase of the Supreme Bench. Peter Early was 
one of five prosecutors of the case and presented the ablest 
argument. In 1807 he voluntarily retired from Congress, then 
became Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit, in 1813 Governor of 
Ga. The war of 1812 had been going on a year and a half, he 
pushed the Ga. efforts to end the war through armed men and 
provisions. He bor/rowed $20,000 from the Bank at Augusta 
for the use of Federal troops under Gen. Floyd. He appoint¬ 
ed Gen. McIntosh to help with the fighting. Later Early serv¬ 
ed in the Senate. He died in 1817 and is buried in Greene 
County. 


SAMUEL DALE 

Orphaned at 17, the eldest of nine children, Samuel Dale 
knelt at night alone beside the grave of his departed dead in 
Rockbridge County, Virginia. “Never”, he said, “Has the iron 
entered so deeply into my heart.” He came to Greene Co. at 
eleven years of age. 

In 1793, at 18 he was a Federal scout in Georgia, and at 
23 he began trading among the Creeks and Choctaws, running 
a wagon line for the transportation of homeseekers to the 
Mississippi territory. In 1803 he became a guide to mark out 
a highway through the Cherokee nation to the Mississippi. 


292 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 



Old Salem Presbyterian church. Indian Fort on the Oconee (there were 
twenty on the frontiers) . Samuel Dale (See personages) . 














HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


293 


He set up a trading post, exchanging merchandise for 
pelts, hides and tallow. In 1811 he attended the council of 
Tookabatcha in Georgia and heard Tecumseh the great Shaw¬ 
nee stir up 5,000 braves with his tongue of liquid fire. 

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian was declared, 
he volunteered. The trail “Wolfpath, that led from Pensacola 
to the Creeks sacred city, “Holy Ground” crossed Burnt Corn 
Creek and here Samuel Dale was wounded by the Indians. 
Later he occupied Fort Madison where he evolved a crude 
system of illumination with pine-knot faggots suspended on 
trace chains between tall poles. He covered the blockhouses 
with plastered clay to prevent the Indians torches from burn¬ 
ing them. He had the women dress in pants to fool the spies. 
Big Sam Dale was a hero in a desperate conflict in canoes, in 
which he destroyed nine braves single-handed. 

He was with the Mississippi Dragoons and the Tennessee 
Volunteers in the destruction of the Holy City in which And¬ 
rew Jackson, Sam Houston, Gen. Claiborne and David Cro- 
kett took active part. In the course of that war they often lived 
on acorns, hickory nuts ,rats and horse meat. 

When Andrew Jackson was in the middle of the battle 
for New Orleans, Samuel Dale made his record ride from 
Georgia to the Plain of Chalmette in eight days, 700 miles, on 
his pony, “Paddy,” delivering important messages from the 
War Department. 

In 1816 he was selected as a delegate to the convention 
called to divide the Mississippi territory up to make Alabama 
of the eastern half, he also served two terms in the state legis¬ 
lature. In 1831 he settled on a farm in Lauderdale County, 
Miss. He was entertained by President Andrew Jackson in 
Washington in 1832 and imparted vivid impressions of Web¬ 
ster, Clay and Calhoun but thought that Tecumseh, the Shaw¬ 
nee, Pushmataha Chief of the Choctaws and S. S.Prentiss of 
Miss, exceeded them all in eloquence. 

Samuel Dale was a scout, guide, trader, patriot, Indian 
fighter and farmer and few blazed such a trail through the 
American wilderness. He was without book learning, but he 


294 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


had the knowledge that passeth understanding. He was loyal, 
kind ,and fearless and now sleeps near his home in the forest 
where he died in 1841. Daleville, Miss, near Meridan where 
he last lived. 

When Lafayette, on his American tour visited Alabama 
in 1825 he was entertained at a luncheon in Monroe Co. at 
which General Samuel Dale as a member of the state’s first 
Gen. Assembly was the host. The menu which was produced 
in the country-side is typical of the hearty and lusty times in 
which Sam Dale lived and of his own abounding vitality. The 
menu follows: Gumbo soup, catfish chowder, baked lake trout 
stuffed with pork, vension stew, roast wild turkey, barbecued 
bear meat, squirrel pie, Brunswick stew, Indian hominy boiled 
with hog jowl, rhubarb pie, dried apple tarts, peach cobbler, 
pear preserves, huckleberry jelly, honey in comb, biscuit, cakes, 
apple brandy and scuppernong wine. 

“General Andrew Jackson was in command in the battle of 
“Horseshoe Bend”, Coffee led Jackson’s advance across the 
Coosa and there were with him 900 swaggering, swearing 
horsemen from Mt. Pleasant. Sam Houston, the “tallow-fac¬ 
ed” youth from the Cumberlands was there. Sam Dale with 
his double-barreled, two-triggered shot gun, Bowie with his 
savage blood-thirsty knife, Davy Crockett from the west Ten¬ 
nessee canebrakes with his “Old Betsey”. It was here amidst 
the roaring cannon and musketry, there was a twang of a bow¬ 
string and the buzz of a poisoned arrow, as deadly as the sting 
of an asp or the bite of a cobra. The arrow buried itself in 
Sam Houston’s thigh, but whirling Sam Dale with his hawk- 
eyes killed the Indian with a charge of buckshot. Sam Dale 
dragged Sam Houston behind a boulder and with his knife 
cut out the arrow and sucked out the poison at the risk of his 
own life, thus saving Sam Houston for San Jacinto and Texas 
Independence to become a star of first magnitude in the azure 
firmanent of imperial Texas.” (From Col. Jim Walton) Sec. 
of General Samuel Dale Pilgrimage Society, Eupora, Miss. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


295 




Thomas Greer and wife Letitia Greer 










296 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THOMAS GRIER (GREER) 

Thomas Grier, son of Robert Grier, served as a soldier 
in the Revolution (Knight’s Georgia Roster of the Revolution, 
page 88), having first come down from York County, Pennsyl¬ 
vania with his father and other members of his family. He is 
listed in the Census of Greene County, 1820 and left a will 
recorded in the County on October 27, 1825. All of his home 
estate was left to his widow, Lelitia Grier. The remainder of 
his property was left to his two sons, Thomas Grier, Jr. and 
John W. G. Grier, and their children. Both married early set¬ 
tlers of Georgia, the former having married Sophia Martin and 
the latter Jane Pinckard. Neither of his sons produced male 
heirs, which caused this branch of the Grier family to have re¬ 
mained undiscovered for many years. 

Apparently by the time he wrote his will Thomas Grier 
was beginning to spell his name “Greer”, the name appearing 
both ways in his will. His children at all times used the spelling 
“Greer”. 

The complete lineage of Thomas Greer, Sr. and his chil¬ 
dren is found in the family Bible begun by his son Thomas, Jr. 
and continued by his eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth (who 
married Amassa R. Moore, brother of the famous Methodist 
minister, Mark W. Moore, and moved to Harris County, 
Georgia and thence to Calhoun County, Mississippi). 

Family records also identify the pictures as being those of 
Thomas and Letitia Greer. 

JAMES BILLINGSLEA PARK 

James Billingslea Park, Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit, 
was born in Morgan county, Georgia, Feb. 28, 1854, the son 
of James B. Park, 1825-1901, and Missiouri E. Billingslea 
Park, 1849-1885. His grandfather, James Park was an officer 
of the Revolution and present at Yorktown when Cornwallis 
surrendered to General Washington. He settled in Greene 
County on the Oconee river, while across the river the hostile 
Indians lived. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


297 


Judge Park graduated from Emory college in 1874 with 
an A. B. degree and was admitted to* the bar in 1875. He settled 
in Greensboro and there married Anna M. Poullain, daughter 
of Junius Poullain. 

Their children were: Henry Lewis (died in infancy), Ka¬ 
therine, died the year she graduated from Lucy Cobb, Noel 
P. who married Elizabeth Horkan of Augusta, Mrs. Hallie B. 
Smith, Mrs. Anna M. Harris, Celeste M. (Mrs. R. K. Smith), 
Marion, who married Chas. B. Merritt of Atlanta. In all 
seven children. 

Called to the bench on Jan. 1, 1911 and for many years 
was Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit. He was ever fair, pati¬ 
ent, courteous and beloved by the people of the eight counties 
in which he served. Someone said that, “It is a delight to watch 
the operation of the machinery of law under his just and calm 
direction.” 

From 1894 to 1909 he was a director of the experiment 
station of the eighth district. He was a Methodist and his 
wife an Episcopalian. He was a Mason, an Odd Fellow and 
a Knight of Pythias. He was always a student, and met every 
obligation of citizenship, loved his state, its traditions and 
memories and was loyal and prompt to obey the calls of his 
state. He is remembered as a fine example of a Chesterfield 
and a Georgian. 

Ezekiel Evans Park was born in Va. and died in Ga. and 
his will names his wife Susannah Park and sons: Joseph, Peyton, 
James S., John G. and a son-in-law Peter Jones Williams. 
Daughters were: Lucinda and Sarah Catherine. 

In the Roll of Honor Lineage Book Vol. 1 to 40 and 41 
to 80 we find that Lucinda Park married Peter Jones Williams 
of Milledgeville. The other daughter Sarah Catherine married 
Von Volkenburg of New York, Lucienda and Peter Williams 
had the following children: Susan Williams Jones, Bessie Wil¬ 
liam, Florence Williams Olmstead, Callie Lumpkin Williams, 
Susan Olmstead, Mrs. Joseph Blount Miller was the grand¬ 
daughter of Catherine (Vol. 11 p. 157.) 


298 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Francis Lloyd Park was the daughter of James S. and 
Harriett Cunningham Park, (grandaughter of Ezekiel and Su¬ 
sannah Smith) 

BISHOP GEORGE FOSTER PIERCE 

In Februrary, 1811, George Foster Pierce was born in 
Greene County, Georgia three miles from Greensboro. He 
was the son of Reverend Lovick Pierce, born March 24, 1785, 
in Halifax County, N. C. In 1804 Lovick and his brother Red 
dick were admitted on trial as itinerant Methodist preachers 
in Charleston, S. C. Rev. Lovick Pierce was first on the Great 
Pedee Circuit in Eastern S. C., next the Apalachee Circuit in 
Ga. On this circuit he met and married Ann Foster, Sept. 1809. 

George Pierce was nicknamed “Bulger” and was a fro¬ 
licsome, likable lad. He liked to ride, was a good shot, fisher¬ 
man and sport. He entered the freshman class at Franklin Col¬ 
lege, now the U. of Ga., when he was fifteen years old and 
was a member of the Phi Kappa society and a champion de¬ 
bater. After three and one half years in August 1829 he gra¬ 
duated with an A.B. degree before he was nineteen. He was 
licensed to preach in 1830 and preached his first sermon at 
Monticello, Ga. The text was, “They seemed to him as one 
that mocked”. The Quarterly Conference that licensed him 
was held in Eatonton, Ga. and presided over by Rev. William 
Arnold. In 1832 he preached in Augusta, then his first station 
was in Savannah where he met and married Ann Marie Wald¬ 
ron, and had children; Ella, Lovick, Jr., Claudia, Mary, Ann, 
and Sarah, died. 

He was made Pres, of Georgia Female College in Macon 
now Wesleyan in 1839 and was personally very popular, with 
his winning smile, joyous manner, hearty laugh and friendli¬ 
ness. He would never compromise with evil and believed the 
Gospel which he preached. 

At the age of 43 he was made a Bishop and his Confer¬ 
ence carried him from coast to coast. He never seemed to tire 
and never spared himself. The Gen. Conference held in Loui¬ 
siana in 1874 had among its members three distinguished mem- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


299 



Top left—William Heard Kilpatrick. Top Right—William Seward, (Ssec. 
War 1861-65 who taught at Union Academy in Greensboro, about 1852). 
Lower left—James Hines Kilpatrick (Rev.) . Lower right—Bishop George 

Foster Pierce. 











300 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


bers of the same family, Dr. Lovick Pierce, Bishop George F. 
Pierce and Lovick Pierce, Jr. a son of the Bishop. He served 
the Conference for over fifty years and died at the home of 
his son in Sparta, Ga., Feb. 1884 and was buried there. 

He was always interested in education of young women, 
which in that day was considered very radical. He was editor 
of “The Southern Ladies Book”. While in Macon he lived in 
Vineville near his sister Julia who had married Rev. Alfred T. 
Mann. He loved his family and although his duties took him 
away, he always hurried home. In 1840 Transylvania College 
conferred the Doctor of Divinity on Pierce. His fame became 
national in 1844 when he headed a delegation to the Gen. 
Conference composed of William J. Parks, Lovick Pierce, 
James E. Evans and Augustus B. Longstreet. In the great de¬ 
bate that led to the separation of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church into separate parts he made a speech on the Southern 
side that was electric in its immediate effects and whose echos 
are still in the air. He was the most popular man at the Peters¬ 
burg, Va. Conference in May 1846. While he was at Columbus 
in 1847 he was elected Pres, of Emory College at Oxford. 
Even at that time he was advocating the admission of women 
into the college. 

There were three distinguished members of the family: 
Lovick Pierce, Bishop George F. Pierce and Lovick Pierce, Jr. 
a son of the Bishop. 


KILPATRICK 

James Hines Kilpatrick was born October 18, 1833 in 
Burke County, Ga., the son of J. H. T. and Harriet E. Jones 
Kilpatrick. He was graduated from Mercer University at Pen- 
field in 1853, and taught school in White Plains, 1853-1854. 
He was called to preach at White Plains Baptist Church on 
Dec. 7, 1854. He was ordained at Hopewell Church Burke 
County, on Dec. 30, 1854. He served the White Plains Baptist 
Church from his ordination until his death, a period of more 
than 53 years. He was moderator of the Georgia Baptist As¬ 
sociation for 23 years, president of the State Convention six 
years and Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


301 


in 1895. He was a member of the Southern Baptist Sunday 
School Board from its organization until his death. He was a 
trustee of Mercer University and a trustee of the Southern 
Baptist Theological Seminary at the time of his death. Mercer 
University conferred the Doctor of Divinity Degree on him in 
1882. He wrote a number of tracts, the most widely read was 
“Why I am a Baptist”. He was the author of a book, “The 
Baptists, Their Doctrines and Life”, which he was asked to 
compile from his sermons. He had completed this book but 
died before it was published by the Georgia Association. He 
married first Cornelia Hall of Greene County, May 9, 1856. 
She died March 21, 1870, and he married Edna Perrin Heard 
of Augusta, Dec. 20, 1870, and who died March 26, 1925. He 
died at his home in White Plains, Ga., March 27, 1908. 

Wlliiam Heard Kilpatrick was born in White Plains, Ga., 
Nov. 20, 1871, the son of James Hines Kilpatrick and Edna 
Perrin Heard Kilpatrick. He was educated at Dawson Insti¬ 
tute in White Plains, Ga., and in 1891 was graduated from 
Mercer University with an AB Degree. He spent a year at 
John Hopkins and obtained his Master of Arts Degree from 
Mercer University. He taught at Mercer University from 
1897 to 1904, when he was made acting president. He left 
Mercer in 1906, and in 1907 began his work at Columbia 
University. He was made a full Professor of Philosophy of 
Education there in 1918. He began at Columbia as part-time 
teacher and student, received his PhD there in 1915. He retired 
there in 1938. After his retirement he spent his time teaching 
at various Universities and lecturing. He is most widely known 
for his work in “Progressive Education”. He wrote a number 
of books among which are “Foundation of Methods,” “Edu¬ 
cation for a Changing Civilization”, and “Our Educational 
Task”. He was married Dec. 27, 1898 to Mary Beman Guy¬ 
ton, of Marianna, Fla. She died May 29, 1907, at Columbus, 
Ga. He was married Nov. 26, 1908 to Margaret Manigault 
Pickney of Charleston, S. C. She died Nov. 24, 1938. He mar¬ 
ried Marion Ostrander of Schuylersville, N. Y., May 8, 1940. 


302 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


JONAS FAUCHE, THE MAN WHO PROTECTED THE 
GREENE COUNTY CITIZENS AGAINST INDIAN 

RAIDS 

In making a close study of the history of Greene County, 
I am convinced that Jonas Fauche did more to protect the 
lives and property of the early citizens of Greene County, than 
any man of his day; and had it not been for his bravery and 
alertness, the savage Creek Indians would have, in all proba¬ 
bility, exterminated practically all of those who pitched their 
tents along the Oconee and Appalachee Rivers. 

His ability as an able officer won him favor in the State 
of Georgia and he became Georgia’s second Adjutant General. 
In addition to being a Colonial trooper during the American 
Revolution, he distinguished himself during the war of 1812 
as well as the Indian wars that followed the Revolution; and 
I am glad that The Greensboro Herald of May 22, 1885, 
paid this old soldier a well deserved tribute. Note what it had 
to say: 


The Greensboro Herald 
Fri. May 22, 1885 

JONAS FAUCHE was one of the earliest settlers of Greene. He 
was a Frenchman by birth, and a man of undaunted bravery, urbane 
conduct, and loved by the people. He fought with the United States 
forces in the war of 1812, and gained renown on the field of battle by 
reason of his courage and unflinching devotion to duty. In the war of 
1836, a company of soldiers from Greene county was formed under 
the leadership of Captain, afterwards Senator William C. Dawson and 
named in his honor “The Fauche Volunteers.” The characteristics of 
Mr. Fauche were integrity, courage, and a high sense of honor. On 
one occasion he fought a duel at Love’s Spring, where Captain Mit¬ 
chell’s pond now is (1885), and killed his man (Burnsides). As his 
opponent fell, he rushed to his side and burst into a torrent of tears. 
Afterwards he would visit his grave and kneeling would weep over the 
sod.—Spoken to on the subject he proudly repelled the insinuation 
that his conscience smote him for killing the man, and answering with 
a grand look he said, “I killed him, it is true. I do not weep that I did 
wrong, for I did none. I weep that so brave a man, and so noble an 
opponent was forced to diei. That is all. I can weep over an enemy who 
was brave and noble.” Older citizens of Greensboro still remembers 
him and his elegant courtly stylei and classic conduct and language; 
and tell many anecdotes connected with him. Married first, Polly 
Daniel, 1793, second, Mary Baker. (No children by either) 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


303 



Top left—Thomas Stocks. Top right—Rev. Billington Sanders, Pres, of Old 
Mercer. Lower left—Mrs. Billington Sanders “Old Miss”. Lower right— 
Rev. Jesse Mercer (See personages) . 








304 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


REV. JESSE MERCER AND HIS WIFE 
SABRINA SHIVERS. 

According to Governor James Wright’s original Land 
Court papers, which were found in the Archives of Greene 
County, Ga., Silas Mercer and a relative named James Mercer, 
appeared at the office of the Land Court that convened at 
Wrightsborough on December 4, 1773, and did then and there 
make application to purchase and settle on lands that had been 
“Ceded” by the Indians at the Augusta Treaty in May, 1773. 

Silas Mercer told the Land Court officials that he came 
from North Carolina, and that he had a wife and one son and 
one daughter from 2 to 4 years old, and 3 indentured children. 
He selected 100 acres of land on Little Spring Branch about 
one-half mile below his father’s land, at a place called “Ye 
Indian Ladder.” He made a down payment of ten pounds, 
11 shillings and 4 pence, and the warrent read, “for immediate 
settlement.” 

Presumably, Jesse Mercer was the four year old son men¬ 
tioned in the application for land. 

The other Mercer to buy land on the same day was 
named James Mercer, and he, too, was from North Carolina, 
had a wife, 2 sons and 5 daughters, from 13 years to 3 months 
old. James ’entry appeared first and Silas appeared immediate¬ 
ly following. If James was the father of Silas, he must have 
been married twice and reared a second family. 

The South Fork of Little River is mentioned, and as 
Silas Mercer is buried at Ficklen, Ga.-between Sharon and 
Washington, Ga., this must have been where Silas Mercer 
originally settled; it is only a few miles from Phillips Mill 
Church and not very far from Bethesda where both Silas and 
Jesse Mercer’s home was on the north prong of Little River, 
where the second Miriam died. 

History records where Silas Mercer baptized his son 
Jesse in a barrel at Phillips Mill Church and, as Jesse Mer¬ 
cer was received into the membership of Bethesda Church, by 
letter, in May 1807, he probably came from Phillips Mill. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


305 


Silas Mercer was the first pastor of Bethesda Baptist 
Church and continued as pastor up to the time of his death. 
Abram Marshall succeeded Silas Mercer and James Heflin suc¬ 
ceeded Marshall. Jesse Mercer was the fourth pastor. 

As to the date when Jesse Mercer’s pastorate at Bethesda 
began, the old minute book does not show. Bethesda’s first 
minute book was lost many, many years ago. Minute Book No. 
2. begins on August 16, 1817. Mr. Mercer was pastor at that 
time. 

Bethesda Church granted a letter to Jesse Mercer and 
his wife, Sabrina Mercer, in January 1818. In that year they 
moved to Powellton, Ga. However, Mr. Mercer continued to 
serve as pastor for a number of years. 

The second Miriam died four years before Rev. & Mrs. 
Mercer moved to Powellton. The first Miriam was born about 
the close of the year 1798 and died nine months later; the sec¬ 
ond Miriam was born about five years later. 

The following epitome tells something of Rev. Jesse Mer¬ 
cer’s life: 

Born in Halifax County, North Carolina, December 16, 
1769; came to Georgia, with his parents at the age of 4 years, 
about Dec. 4, 1773, together with one sister, 2 years of age, 
and 3 other children that his father, Silas Mercer had inden¬ 
tured their names and ages were not recorded, but they were, 
in all probability, given the name of MERCER; 

Baptized — “dipped” in a barrel by his father on July 
7, 1787. 

Married Sabrina Shivers in Janutry, 1788, when he was 
19 years of age; 

Ordained to preach, at Phillips Mill Church while in his 
20th year; 

Sold his little farm and he and his wife moved into a little 
house on Fishing Creek, Wilkes County, where he studied 
under Rev. John Springer, a Presbyterian minister, who con¬ 
ducted a school in that neighborhood. While studying under 


306 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Rev. Springer he served Sardis Church, previously known as 
Hutton’s Fork, his first pastorate. He served Sardis Church 
until sometime in 1817. In that year he resigned and succeeded 
his father as pastor at Phillips’ Mill. His membership was at 
Phillips Mill from 1807 to 1817, in which year he received a 
letter of dismission and joined Bethesda Baptist Church, then 
in Greene County. His residence, at that time, was also in 
Greene County, at a place on Little River, known as Mercer 
Spring .He and his wife, Sabrina, got letters of dismission from 
Bethesda in 1818 and are said to have moved to Powellton; and 
lived there until the latter part of 1825; 

He became pastor of the Eatonton Church in January, 
1820, and continued through the year 1826; 

In the year 1826, he was a delegate to the General Bap¬ 
tist Convention, and his wife, Sabrina, accompanied him. While 
on their return from the Convention, his wife was taken ill 
while passing through the upper part of South Carolina, and 
died at Andersonville, Pendleton district, South Carolina, on 
September 23, 1826, and was buried there. 

He moved to Wilkes County about the close of the year 
1826 or early in 1827. 

In December, 1827, a Baptist Church was constituted in 
the town of Washington, and Mr. Mercer became it pastor. 
He continued to serve the Washington Church up to the time 
of his death. He preached his last sermon just a few days be¬ 
fore leaving for Indian Springs, where he died on September 
6, 1841. His remains were placed in a wagon and started for 
Washington for burial. Embalming was unknown and travel 
was slow; the body reached Madison after night and rested in 
the home of David Butler, his friend and executor of his will. 
The next morning the journey was resumed and reached Greens¬ 
boro late in the afternoon; the body had begun to decompose 
and it was decided to carry it to Penfield and bury it on the 
grounds of the University that bore his name, and to which 
he had given his fortune. His body was buried in the Church¬ 
yard near where the Mercer Chapel now stands, and remained 
there until sometime after 1848. In that year The Georgia 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


307 


Baptist Convention set apart a burial ground for the Penfield 
community, and Mr. Mercer’s remains were removed and re¬ 
interred on the highest spot in the cemetery. This greatly dis¬ 
pleased the Washington Church as they wanted Mr. Mercer’s 
remains buried by the side of his last wife who had been buried 
in the Church yard. This feeling of resentment still exists, to 
some extent, after a period of one hundred years. As an evi¬ 
dence of that fact, some years after Mr. Mercer’s death, a fund 
of $260.00 was created for the purpose of adequately marking 
Mr. Mercer’s grave. On account of the row that continued as 
to where Mr. Mercer’s body should remain, the fund was never 
used for the purpose for which it was created ,and has long 
been accounted for at every meeting of the Georgia Association 
as “The Mercer Fund.” An effort was made to get the Georgia 
Association to apply this fund for the purpose for which it was 
created, but the Executive Committee rejected the appeal and 
Mr. Mercer’s grave was adequately marked with funds from 
other sources. 

The Widely Scattered Graves of Jesse Mercer’s Family 

The first Miriam died and was buried in Virginia, in 
1799; The second Miriam died and was buried in Greene 
County, Ga. in 1814; Sabrina Shivers, Mercer’s first wife, 
died and was buried in Andersonville, South Carolina, Sep¬ 
tember 23, 1826; His second wife, Mrs. Nancy Simons, died 
and was buried in Washington, Georgia, in May, 1841; Mr. 
Mercer died at Indian Springs, Butts County, Ga. on September 
6, 1841, and was buried in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. 

Moving the Remains of the Mercer Family 

After having lain in his first grave for some eight or ten 
years, the remains of Rev. Jesse Mercer were transferred to 
the Penfield Cemetery, about one-fourth mile from where he 
was originally buried. This became his permanent resting place. 

His wife, Sabrina, still rests in her grave here in Anderson¬ 
ville, South Carolina. 

The first Miriam still rests where she was buried in Vir¬ 
ginia. 


308 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Mr. Mercer’s second wife, Nancy Simons Mercer, lies in 
her original grave in the Washington Baptist Churchyard. 

The second Miriam, after having been in her grave more 
than one hundred years, was transferred to another grave, here 
is the story: 

While Rev. R. L. Robinson was pastor of Bethesda 
Church, he heard of the lonely grave of the second Miriam 
Mercer and, together with some of his members, located the 
grave, dug up her remains placed her dust in a box, that is, all 
that could be found, and reintered them in the Bethesda Church¬ 
yard. This was about the year 1925. 

After the Penfield Cemetery became endowed with a 
$35,000, foundation for its perpetual upkeep, and had been 
made a beauty-spot surrounded by a granite wall with other 
improvements, Bethesda Baptist Church, in conference voted 
to authorize T. B. Rice to remove the remains of Miriam 
Mercer, 2nd, from Bethesda Churchyard to the Penfield 
Cemetery and place them by the side of her distinguished fath¬ 
er. So, on November 5, 1943, I, the said T. B. Rice, together 
with Mr. and Mrs. Felix Boswell, of Greensboro, Ga. did go 
to the home of Mr. Bill Hester, Clerk and deacon of Bethesda 
Baptist Church, and from there we went to the Bethesda Ceme¬ 
tery and removed the contents of the grave of Miriam Mercer 
No. 2, and together with the headstone that marked the grave 
and transferred them to the Penfield Cemetery and placed 
them by the side of Jesse Mercer’s grave. 

Authorities consulted; History of the Baptist Denomina¬ 
tion in Georgia, compiled for the Christian Index, original 
minutes of Bethesda Baptist Church, and the original papers 
of Governor James Wright’s Land Court, appointed by him, 
to dispose of Indian lands Ceded under the Augusta Treaty 
in May, 1773. Surmises and deductions by the writer. 

Some Legends Concerning Jesse Mercer 

It is a well known fact that Rev. Jesse Mercer and Gover¬ 
nor John Clark were life-long, and bitter enemies. They were 
about the same age, both came from North Carolina, while 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


309 


mere boys, with their parents, lived in the same county, Wilkes. 
Jesse was religiously inclined while John Clark was a veritable 
devil. He married the writer’s great-great aunt, and his antics 
have been handed down through the family. John Clark, to¬ 
gether with Hugh McCall, Georgia’s first Historian, were in¬ 
dicted for riot in Greene County, in the year 1793. While at¬ 
tending Court, they got drunk, raised a row on the court- 
grounds and precipitated a riot. His father-in-law, Col. Mica- 
jah Williamson, owned a Tavern in the town of Washington, 
Ga. and knows as the George Washington Tavern. Over the 
door of the Tavern was a picture of General George Washing¬ 
ton, for whom the town of Washington was named. 

On one occasion, while John Clark was “in his cups”, he 
proceeded to shoot up General Washington’s picture. When 
he sobered up he did have the manhood to have the damage 
repaired; but many other drunken brawls are to his credit, or 
discredit. So much for John Clark’s reputation. 

Sabrina Shivers and her younger sister, were left orphans 
at an early age; they were reared by a Mr. Weaver who lived 
near Phillips Mill. Jesse Mercer fell in love with Sabrina and 
married her. Several years later Sabrina’s sister developed in¬ 
to a beautiful girl and she caught the eyes of John Clark; the 
family, knowing of Clark’s reputation, forbade his paying her 
court. However, the girl seemed to fall for the reprobate, and 
met him on the sly. One cold afternoon while the family was 
away, John Clark rode up on his horse, took the girl up behind 
him and went in search of a preacher to perform their mar¬ 
riage ceremony. They rode far into the night and finally reach¬ 
ed the home of a friend of John Clark. The weather had turn¬ 
ed bitter cold, snow and sleet had covered the ground, and the 
girl was almost frozen. The lady of the house took her in, got 
her warm and put her to bed. She developed pneumonia and 
died. 

This event caused Jesse Mercer and his wife to hate John 
Clark to their dying day. 

This experience seems to have caused Clark to reform, 
for a while; in any event, about the year 1791, he married the 


310 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


oldest daughter, said to have been a beautiful girl, of Col. 
Micajah Williamson. Col. Williamson had five or six beautiful 
daughters who married prominent men; one of whom was the 
grandmother of Justice L. Q. C. Lamar, another married Dun¬ 
can G. Campbell, she was the mother of Justice John A. Camp¬ 
bell of the U. S. Supreme Court. A grandson of Col. William- 
som was a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of 
Texas. None of these had any use for John Clark. 

The Clark-Troup feud kept the state of Georgia in a poli¬ 
tical uproar for many years; and it was a Greene County man, 
Thomas Stocks, who cast the vote that broke the tie and elect¬ 
ed George M. Troup Governor of Georgia. This sounded the 
death knell of the Clark party. 

Jesse Mercer was present in the old Capitol, at Mill- 
edgeville, when Stocks cast the vote. He forgot his dignity as 
a minister and shouted; 

“Thank God, John Clark and the devil are dead.” 

Bedlam broke loose in the old Capitol and a wild scene 
followed. 

(This is graphically described in William H. Sparks, 
“Memories of Fifty Years, published by the Burke Co. in 
1870). 


ANOTHER CLARK-MERCER LEGEND 

The following legend has been handed down through the 
Greene County Weaver family. W. W. D. Weaver was one of 
the early settlers of Greene County; he married a sister of 
Leonora Mounger-Greenwood who became the wife of Bishop 
J. O. Andrew, whose slaves caused Bishop Andrew to be un¬ 
frocked and thereby, brought about the split in the M. E. 
Church in the year 1844. 

The Mounger girls were daughters of Edwin Mounger 
who married a daughter of General Elijah Clark, therefore, 
grand-daughter of the old Revolutionary General, and nieces 
of John Clark. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


311 


Here is the story as related to me by the Weaver family: 

During John Clark’s first term as Governor of Georgia, 
Jesse Mercer was pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church; Gover¬ 
nor Clark’s home was in Milledgeville but he owned property- 
in Wilkes County and often visited there. The road from Mill¬ 
edgeville to Washington passed by Bethesda Church. When he 
reached the church on one occasion, he observed a large gather¬ 
ing of men standing around the church, and as was his custom, 
he and his companions alighted and mingled with the crowd. 
When the preaching hour arrived Governor Clark decided to 
attend the service. 

Mr. Mercer had arrived early and had taken his seat in the 
old high, boxed-in pulpit, presumably, to study his sermon, 
but he soon went to sleep and did not see the Governor when 
he entered. 

When time arrived for the services to begin the old preacher 
was snoring, loud; one of his deacons went up to the pulpit and 
tapped the brother on his shoulder and told him the congregation 
was waiting. Mr. Mercer arose, wiped his eyes, adjusted his glass¬ 
es and looked over the congregation. He spied John Clark and 
his cohorts, anger was shown in his face, and he began turning 
the pages of his Bible; finally he said, “Brotheren; I will have to 
change the theme I had selected for today and choose another 
text.” He then proceeded to read Proverbs 29 ;3. 

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but 

when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” 

Then the preacher proceeded to do a “Louie Newton,” while 
the Governor squirmed in his seat. 

In Memory of Jesse Mercer at Penfield 

“Inscribed to the memory of JESSE MERCER by the 
Trustees of the University which bears his name and of which 
he was a munificent Benefactor. This eminent man was born in 
Halifax County, N. C. Dec. 16, 1789 and departed this life 
in Butts County Sept. 6, 1841 in the 72nd year of his age. He 
was ordained a minister of the gospel at Phillips Mill, Ga. 
Nov. 7, 1789. He was Moderator of the Georgia Baptist As¬ 
sociation 23 years; President of the Baptist Convention of the 
State of Georgia 19 years, President of the Board of Foreign 
Missions 11 years and a Minister of the everlasting gospel 
52 years. 

His manners were simple; his mind was original, discrimi¬ 
nating and profound. His piety was enlightened and fervent, 
exhibiting great love for the truth and zeal for the glory of 
God. He was wise in counsel, firm in purpose, and energetic 
in action. He was mighty in Scriptures; and as a minister of the 


312 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Gospel, instructive, laborious and successful. Though greatly 
honored and wielding an extraordinary influence, he was modest 
and humble. While he was the friend of all benevolent objects, 
he fostered this University with special solicitude, and bequeath¬ 
ed to it the principal part of his large estate.” 

DR. THOMAS N. POULLAIN 

Dr. Thomas N. Poullian b. 1793 and d. 2-27-1889 when 97 
years old. He married Harriett Byron Wray who died in 1872 
and they had nine children. They were: Antoine, Felix, Phillip, 
Thomas, William, Junius, Walter, Mrs. J. G. McHenry of 
Madison, Mrs. Celeste P. Moore of Augusta. Two of his 
grandaughters now living (1940) are Mrs. James B. Park 
and Mrs. Henry T. Lewis. He married second Mildred San¬ 
ford. 

Dr. Thos. N. Poullain owned property at Scull Shoals on 
the Oconee River about twelve miles from Greensboro. He 
and his associates built a dam across the river and a cotton 
factory which made yarns and cloth in 1834. The mill pro¬ 
spered and was burned in 1848, but Poullain rebuilt a second 
and larger mill which also prospered. Most of the cotton he 
used were grown by his 278 slaves and thousands of acres of 
land and those of his wife’s brother the Wray’s of Wraywood 
who owned 143 slaves and grew much cotton. The Wrays’ 
had a beautiful home and large plantations. 

Dr. Poullain built a large and beautiful home in Greens¬ 
boro with 22 rooms and a basement of six rooms with a large 
two-story brick kitchen in the back. (1833) The furniture, 
china and silver were imported from France and England and 
this was the show place of the county. This home burned in 
1905. 

The Scull Shoals Factory was sometimes called the Fon- 
tenoy Mills as that was the name of the home of the former 
owner of this property, that of Joel Early. 

During the war of the 1860’s the mill made the first 
heavy cotton bagging and continued to operate, but after Sher¬ 
man’s march through Georgia and the slaves were freed and all 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


313 


of the cotton Poullain had shipped had been seized on the high 
seas by the Federal government he lost his wealth, and the 
debts piled up and he died almost penniless. There is no re¬ 
cord of Dr. Poullain of having practiced medicine or to have 
been in politics. He owned in addition to Greene Co. property, 
two plantations in Floyd County which he willed to Junius and 
William Poullain. It is said that two of Georgia’s first three 
millionaires were Dr. Poullain and Absolom Janes. 


OLIVER PORTER 

About 1740 John Porter and Mary Anthony married in 
Belfast, Ireland. In 1750 they left with children William and 
Florence landed at Philadelphia and went to Prince Edward Co. 
Va. The six other children born in America were: John, Na¬ 
thaniel, Oliver, Frank, May and Sarah . 

Oliver, the youngest born in Va. in 1763 and was only 17 
yrs. of age when he witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at 
Yorktown. He married Margaret Watson and settled on Fish¬ 
ing Creek in Greene Co. in 1787. 

Oliver Porter was four times Presidential elector of Ga. 
he was always active in social, educational and religious affairs. 
He contributed the brick church, Bethesda in 1818. His great 
grandson, James H. Porter of Macon, Ga. was also a bene¬ 
factor in his will and life to Wesleyan and Mercer University. 

Oliver was a representative of Greene Co. in Louisville 
and Milledgeville for 21 years. He with George M. Troup 
and Augustine Beall were chosen to lay off the town of Mil¬ 
ledgeville. Oliver died at his home in Greene Co. 1838 in his 
76th year. Margaret died a year before he did and the family 
is buried in a substantial enclosure near his old home. 

Their children were: Douglas Watson, John Watson, 
James Madison, Ann Porter, Margaret Porter, Catherine, all 
who married and left descendants. A grandson, Oliver Porter 
Jr. was the founder of Porterdale and the mills near Coving¬ 
ton, Ga. 


314 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


DR. THOMAS GRESHAM JANES 

Dr. Thomas G. Janes, an eminent physican of Greene Co. 
was born July 11, 1794 and died Sept. 14, 1843. He represent¬ 
ed Greene Co. in the legislature in 1827-28, 34-35 and was 
Senator in 1836-37-38. He was one of the first Trustees of 
Mercer University. He was the son of William Janes, IV 
Born Dec. 9, 1771 near Petersburg, Va. and died July 9, 1827 
in Greene Co. He was a planter and merchant and married 
to Selah Gresham. He was the grandson of an architect in 
Richmond, Va. who married Miss Reams in 1770. 

The Janes family is of French-Norman origin. Guido de 
Janes was a follower of Henry II of England in 1154. Grand¬ 
son Geoffrey Janes made three pilgrimages to the Holy Land 
during the Crusades. William Janes, first American ancestor 
came from Essex, England to New Haven Conn. Died 1690. 

Dr. Thos. G. Janes married Malinda West in 1821, in 
1828 married her sister Emily West, married third Elizabeth 
Sanford. 

JUDGE EUGENIUS NISBET AND OTHERS 

Judge Eugenius Nisbet was a member of the Supreme 
Court of Georgia and represented Georgia in Congress and 
wrote the Ordinance of Secession. 

Bishop James O. Andrew, the martyr-bishop of Metho¬ 
dism lived for a short time in Greensboro and it was here he 
married the widow Greenwood from whom he acquired slave 
property which rent Methodism asunder in 1844. 

Yelverton P. King was a distinguished legislator and was 
at one time Charge d’Affairs in one of the South American 
countries. 

John L. Dagg and Nathaniel M. Crawford were eminent 
Baptist theologians. 

Billington M. Sanders was the first President of Mercer 
lived at Penfield. Other educators who lived there at this per¬ 
iod were: Shaler G. Hillyer, Shelton P. Sanford, J. E. Willet 
and Patrick H. Mell. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


315 


Dr. Adiel Sherwood while serving the Greensboro Bap¬ 
tist church in 1829 published his famous Gazeteer. 

Archibald Henry Scott, an eminent educator taught school 
at Greensboro and Bishop Pierce was one of his pupils. Scott’s 
son, Dr. William H. Scott was a scholar and a man of letters. 

Judge John C. Hart was born at Union Point and was 
Attorney-General of Georgia. 

Albert Foster was a jurist of note and his brother, Na¬ 
thaniel G. Foster, a member of Congress and a Baptist minister. 

Four counties of Georgia have been named for residents of 
Greene County, viz; Early, Cobb, Dawson, and Haralson. 

Francis H. Cone was an eminent lawyer whose personal 
encounter with Alexander Stephens on the steps of the old At¬ 
lanta Hotel in 1844 was one of the most dramatic episodes of 
ante-bellum politics. 

REVEREND DOCTOR FRANCIS CUMMINGS 

(White’s Statistics, Page 292; Miller’s Bench and Bar, page 
304; Sherwood’s Gazetteer, pages 155 and 156; and others) 

Dr. Cummings was the master of a high-class, select 

school at Bethany and Greensboro. Senator William C. Daw¬ 
son, Judge Eugenius Nesbit, Colonel Y. P. King and General 
H. A. Harrelson, all natives of Greene, were among his stu¬ 
dents. 

Dr. Cummings published a pamphlet on Presbyterianism in 
1820 and another on Salvation of Infants in 1828; and other 
matters of interest came from his pen. 

Rev. Dr. Francis Cummings died in Greene County. With 
few interruptions by occasional sickness, he had preached the 
gospel more than half a century. He was one of the oldest 
and most respectable Presbyterian ministers in the southern 
states. His native place was Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 
After completing his education in his native state, he served 
for some time in the army in defense of his country. Before the 


316 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


close of the Revolutionary War, he was licensed to preach the 
Gospel in the state of North Carolina, and soon after the 
peace settled in South Carolina. He afterwards removed to 
Greene Co. Georgia and preached to the congregation for twen¬ 
ty-three years amongst which he died. Having resigned his 
charge and preached his farewell sermon, he was taken sick on 
the next day, with influenza, and was unable to go out again. He 
died as he had lived, in the vigorous exercise of his faculties, 
intelligently, calmnly, and confidently trusting in the gospel of 
Christ. 


Robert Grier 

Robert Grier was born March 8, 1780 in the State of 
Georgia. He was the uncle of Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, 
Vice-Pres. of the Confederacy. Grier went to school in Greens¬ 
boro to his uncle, Andrew Burns, after this he moved to Butts 
County near Indian Springs, Ga. It was here he made the as¬ 
tronomical calculations for his Almanac. He was offered the 
chair of Mathematics at the University of Ga. which he de¬ 
clined, preferring the work that he was doing in a quiet rural 
life. 

He acquired much property but lost it all when Sher¬ 
man’s hordes swept through the State. 

Every household had a Grier’s Almanac and it was the 
most popular publication in the State for a long time. In 1929 
the issue of Grier’s Almanac Publishing Company of Atlanta, 
Ga. offered prizes for the oldest copies to be found. More 
than 1,000 copies for the first year of its publication were 
found. Some came from Mass., Texas, and almost every state 
in the Union. Copies of the book for 1810 and 1811 won the 
most perfectly preserved copies and they were sent in by Mil- 
ledgeville and Atlanta families. The De Renne Library in Sa¬ 
vannah had the first one published in 1807 but would not let 
it out of the library to win the prize for fear of losing the copy. 

ARTIST P. P. CARTER 

P. P. Carter who painted portraits, lived in Greensboro 
for many years. He married the daughter of Dr. H. H. King 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


317 


in 1885. He painted a large portrait of Governor Jenkins 
now hanging in the State Capitol in Atlanta. He also painted 
portraits of Hon. Evan P. Howell of the Constitution in At¬ 
lanta, Judge James Jackson, Col. L. P. Grant, and Rev. H. C. 
Morrison of the Methodist church. 

In Augusta he painted portraits of Hon. John S. David¬ 
son, Pres, of the Ga. Senate, Col. C. C. Jones, the historian, 
Mr. Ferdinand Phinizy and Hon. W. H. Miller. 

Many beautiful portraits were painted in Charleston, S. C. 
by Carter and now hang in the finest drawing rooms. Some of 
these were: Gen. James Conner, Gen. Johnson Haygood, Gen. 
John A. Wagner, Dr. A. Simonds, George W. Williams, F. 
J. Pelzer, Mrs. F. S. Rogers, Mayor Ficken, Mrs. W. W. 
Simons, and Hon. Wm. A. Courtney. 

The Charleston News and Courier on May 25 1893 said, 
“The contract for painting the large portrait of General G. F. 
Beauregard, which is to hang in the Council Chamber was 
yesterday awarded to Mr. P. P. Carter, the Georgia artist . . . 
he will receive $1,000 for the Beauregard picture. 

BENJAMIN FITZPATRICK 

From the Planter’s Gazette published at Greensboro June 
20, 1860 I quote: “We see from our exchanges that Benjamin 
Fitzpatrick of Alabama, a former citizen of Greene Co. Ga. 
declined the nomination for Vice- President of the United States, 
(by the Rump Convention), and that Ex-Gov. H. V. Johnson 
of Georgia has been nominated by the Douglas Executive Com¬ 
mittee, in the place of Mr. Fitzpatrick.” 

Benjamin Fitzpatrick was born in Virginia and moved to 
Greene County about the time the county was laid out. His 
father owned the land now known as the Billups place. He 
built a fort for the protection of his family against the In¬ 
dians. The map made in 1794, called a military map, shows the 
location of Fitzpatrick’s Fort. Fitzpatrick moved to the new 
state of Alabama soon after it was organized; no Southerner of 
his day was more highly honored, both by his adopted state 
and the United States. 






Judge James B. Park Jr. Judge of 
the Ocmulgee Circuit for many 
years. 


James Cranston Williams, Owner 
and Editor of the Herald-Journal. 
( 1906 - 1936 ). 



Senator William C. Dawson, law- Louisa Mae Alcott, teacher in the 

yer, soldier and statesman (See Greensboro Female Academy and 

Personages). author of “Little Women.” 










HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


319 


PHILLIP CLAYTON 

From the “Greensboro Gazette of May 11, 1859 I quote, 
“Phillip Clayton Clayton of Greensboro, Ga. has been appoint¬ 
ed Acting Secretary of the United States Treasury, during the 
absence of Secretary Cobb of Georgia.” 

Mr. Clayton was the father of our fellow townsman, 
George Clayton. After the Civil War Mr. Clayton entered the 
diplomatic service of the U. S. A. and was Minister of Peru. 
He died of yellow fever. His son, Robert was his Secretary 
and succeeded him as Minister to Peru. Mr. Robert C. Town¬ 
send is a grandson of Phillip Clayton and was named for his 
uncle, Robert. 

JAMES CRANSTON WILLIAMS AND SONS 

“Uncle Jim” Williams was the editor of the Herald-Jour¬ 
nal of Greensboro and published it from 1906 to 1936. He 
was courageous, humorous and keen. The people liked him. 
He wrote encouraging and helpful articles during the depres¬ 
sion when the people on farms and about everywhere had lost 
hope. When the boll weevil destroyed cotton crop after cotton 
crop “Uncle Jim” plead with his folks to turn to cattle and 
dairying, to live at home and conserve the soil. 

When the Ku Klux Klan was active in Greene County he 
was anti-Klan to the core and he never let up on them, he said 
that they were undermining the foundation of American govern¬ 
ment. He stood steadfastly in the face of threats, and he often 
said, “If you want to be missed when you’re gone, you had better 
get busy and do something for humanity.” He pled for re¬ 
forms in prison camps, the repeal of the poll tax and he was 
steadfast against capital punishment. 

People living now remember how tragic the struggle for 
a livelihood grew in the 1929’s and early thirties. They did 
turn to shipping sour cream and to cattle, growing peanuts, 
sawmilling and bootleg whiskey. The Union Point and Greens¬ 
boro mills employed around 900 people although the wage was 
not high, it helped. “Uncle Jim” was always optimistic when 
it was needed most. 


320 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Carey Williams, son of “Uncle Jim” or James Cranston 
started writing short and witty sayings for his father’s paper 
when he was still in High School along about 1930. He showed 
an awareness of current events and humor and philosophy of a 
more mature mind than most boys at his age. 

His column was called “Sense and Nonsense” and it was 
nationally recognized by many periodicals. We quote two of 
his sayings, “An old-timer is one who can recall when map-mak¬ 
ers didn’t specify that the map was subject to change without 
notice.” “When posterity inherits all the debts, we imagine it 
is going to be the end of ancestor worship” When retirement 
pensions were proposed for veteran Congressmen many years 
ago, Carey quipped, “After eating at the public trough, it is 
hard to get on another diet.” 

He is now the editor of the same Herald-Journal and 
has an outstanding paper in Georgia. 

Cranston Williams, the older son of James or “Uncle 
Jim”, also worked first with his father then became editor of 
the Americus-Times Recorder. He served in France in World 
War I in a machine gun company and was made Captain. He 
was private Secretary to Senator William J. Harris for six 
years and then became manager of the Southern Newspapers 
Association. He has lived in New York since 1939 when he was 
made General Manager of the American Newspaper Publish¬ 
ers Association. 

Both brothers as well as their father are listed in Who’s 
Who in America. (Father died in 1936) 

DR. THADDEVS BROCKETT RICE 

Dr. Thaddeus Brockett Rice, was born August 13, 1865 
in Prattsville, Ala. and died April 18, 1950 in Greensboro, Ga. 
He went through the county schools and on to Atlanta where 
he received his license in pharmacy in 1889. He studied under 
Theodore Schuman, a German chemist. He opened a drug 
store in Greensboro on Sept. 1, 1889 and operated it until 1913. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 





-■• > , 


:• •. :X ■ 








321 




Thaddeus Brockett Rice and Maymie Bowen Rice (Made at their golden wedding anniversary) 





































322 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


He was Pres, of the Pharmaceutical Association in 1910, 
and a member of the U. S. Pharmacopial Convention in Wash¬ 
ington, D. C. in 1910. 

He was one of the first members of Gate City Lodge 
Free and Accepted Masons in Atlanta, Ga. transferring his 
membership to San Marino Lodge F. & M. in Greensboro. He 
filled all of the offices in that lodge and was Master many 
times. He organized the Greensboro Chapter Royal Arch Ma¬ 
sons in 1916 and was its first High-Priest and also he organiz¬ 
ed the Select Masters and became its illustrious Master. He 
was a member of Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery at Athens, 
Ga., and a member of the Yaarab Temple of the Mystic Shrine 
of Atlanta. 

Dr. Rice was District Manager for the Southern Bell T. 
and T. Co. for Greensboro territory from Oct. 1, 1898 until 
Sept. 1, 1930 when he was retired. He organized the Bank of 
Greensboro in 1926 and remained its President for many years. 

He was a Baptist, and deacon and Treas. of his church 
for many years, a Democrat, and was Chairman of the Wel¬ 
fare Board of Greene County. 

Dr. Rice wrote for the Greensboro weekly newspaper a 
column on history of the county. He was Chairman of the 
Red Cross Chapter and Mayor of Greensboro several times. 
Judge Park appointed him historian of Greene County while 
he was Judge and Dr. Rice gathered data for this book over a 
period of ten years and it was his wish that some day Greene 
County would have a history. 

Dr. Rice was known for his varied interests, diligent per¬ 
formance of duty, a willingness to spend and be spent in the 
service of others. He was a dynamo of vital energies, and has 
not been known to fail at anything which he undertook. He 
was genial and obliging, a man of unsullied integrity and Christ¬ 
ian character. Fie was modest to a fault and disposed to ques¬ 
tion his success, but no one else did. Greene County is justly 
proud of its adopted son. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


323 


Dr. Rice’s father was a Confederate Soldier, William 
Thornton Rice, born March 13, 1882 in Autauga, Ala. and 
his mother was Julia Rebecca Williamson, born March 1836 
in the Republic of Texas, Wharton Co. She was the daughter 
of Judge Robert M. Williamson, known as, “Three-legged 
Willie,” because of a crippled and bent leg to which he also 
wore a wooden peg. You may read of this interesting man in 
Yoacum, Bancroft, Coryell and other early Texas histories. He 
was the grandson of Col. Micajah Williamson a Col. of the 
Revolution of Wilkes Co. and a cousin of L. Q. C. Lamar of 
Miss. 

Dr. T. B. Rice married Maymie Bowen, born June 8, 
1866 in Greene County. She was graduated from Mary-Sharpe 
College in Winchester, Tenn. For 40 years she was Pres, of 
the W.M.U. of the Baptist Church and Supt. of the Primary 
Dept, of Sunday School. She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas 
Jefferson Bowen, born Jan. 2, 1814 in Heard County, Ga. 
who died in Nov. 24, 1875 in Milledgeville, Ga. He was a 
Capt. in the Seminole War and a Capt. in the Texas-Mexico 
war of 1837. 

Rev. T. J. Bowen went to Africa as a Pioneer Missionary 
in 1849 and charted the Youraba country in Nigeria for the 
British government. He wrote the Youraba language and his 
word-book and grammar are still in use there, and a copy of his 
books may be found in the Smithsonian Institute and the Con¬ 
gressional Library in Washington. He married Miss Laurina 
Davis of Greensboro and both served many years in Africa 
where they lost their only child. Later after surviving many 
fevers and illnesses they went to Rio de Janerio, Brazil as mis¬ 
sionaries until the Civil War cut off the funds for this work. 

Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen after 
their return to Georgia; Mrs. J. H. Moncrief and Mrs. T. B. 
Rice. 

Maymie Bowen Rice, no doubt with her varied interests, 
religious faith and zeal for living a full and active life, greatly 
influenced the life of her husband. Greene County citizens will 
long remember their hospitable and charming home, rich in 


324 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


treasures of historic mementoes and quaint heirlooms recalling 
many a spicy romance of the ante-bellum days. 

So to Thad and Maymie Rice, Greensboro is thankful for 
your lives so busy and so useful and the great example you set 
for others to revere and follow. 

“Two lives beautifully blended, as the rays of the setting 
sun, lighting and purpling the crystal clouds, until sun and 
clouds are mingled in one mass of crimson beauty.” 

Commemorating the Golden Anniversary of Dr. and Mrs. 
T. B. Rice, Greensboro, Ga. Tuesday January 6th, 1942. 

There is a man in our town; 

His name, why it is “Brockett”! 

He makes the wheels of time go round; 

In fact he is it’s Sprocket; 

What shall we do, wdien he is gone; 

This man who has no vices? 

In secret, lets mold a Golden Crown; 

And—all will say ’tis Rices! 

—by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lamb. 

DR. T. B. RICE’S GRANDFATHER 

Dr. T. B. Rice’s grandfather was Judge Robert M. Wil¬ 
liamson “Three-Legged-Willie”’ of Texas and his daughter 
the mother of Dr. Rice was born there. The following inscrip¬ 
tion was copied from his tomb at Austin, Texas. 

“Robert McAlpin Williamson, “Three-Legged Willie”, Born in 
Georgia in 1806; came to Texas in 1826, died at Wharton, Texas 
December 22, 1859. His life was consecrated to his country. Erected 
by the State of Texas. On the reverse side: 

1832. Opposed Mexican despot, Bradburn at Anahuac. 

1835, Delegate from Bastrop to the “Consultation”. 

1836, Major in Rangers, Fought in the battle of San Jacinto. 

1837-40, Member of the Supreme Court of Republic of Texas. 

1840-45, Served in Congress of Republic of Texas. 

1846-50, Served in the Legislature of the State of Texas. 


He also held the first court ever held in the Republic of 
Texas, under a spreading liveoak tree in the town of Colum¬ 
bus, Texas and there is a bronze tablet attached to the tree 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


325 


which still stands. Judge Williamson was born in Washington, 
Wilkes Co. Ga. His grand-father was a Colonel under General 
Elijah Clark, his aunt married Gov. John Clark, his uncle 
married Elijah’s oldest daughter, another aunt married Dun¬ 
can G. Campbell and their son became a Justice of the U. S. 
Supi erne Court. Another aunt married Judge Charles Tait, 
U. S. Senator from Ga. 1809-19. Another aunt married Dr. 
Thompson Bird and their daughter was the mother of L. Q. C. 
Lamar who became another Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. 
His father was a Col. and fought the Spaniards under the 
French flag in Florida and rendered military service along the 
Ga. frontier in the 1790’s. He picked up the trail of the ma¬ 
rauding Indians who pilfered, burned and murdered citizens at 
Skull Shoals, Greene Co. Ga., followed them to Little Ocfuskee 
west of the Chattahoochee, destroyed their town, killed a num¬ 
ber of Indians and delivered eight Indians to the Greene Co. 
authorities. (See Pickett’s History of Ala.) 

This old patriot, Peter B. Williamson is said never to 
have discarded knee pants, cocked hat nor other dress of Colon¬ 
ial days. He moved to Ala. and was the first Judge of Mont¬ 
gomery Co. Ala. He died there at China Grove, Pike Co. Ala. 
on May 6, 1849. 

TWO NOTED SENATORS - COBB AND DAWSON 

In the town cemetery of Greensboro rest two distinguished 
Georgians, both of whom were members of the United States 
Senate. They also served on the Superior Court Bench. These 
two were, Thomas W. Cobb and William C. Dawson. Count¬ 
ies in Georgia were named for these two illustrious sons. Judge 
Dawson married first in 1820 Henrietta, daughter of Dr. 
Thomas Wingfield and second in 1850 Eliza M. Williams, a 
widow of Memphis, Tenn. His son William Reid Dawson 
died while a Junior at the University of Ga. The second child 
Henry lived three years. George Oscar Dawson became a 
lawyer of Greensboro and was a Representative in the legis¬ 
lature. A fourth child, Henrietta Wingfield, became the wife 
of Joseph B. Hill of Columbus. A fifth child, Edgar Gilmer 
Dawson married the only daughter of Dr. Wm. Terrell, of 


326 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Sparta and lived in Columbus. Emma Caledonia, married Ed¬ 
ward W. Seabrook of S. C. Lucien, the last child and a lawyer 
married Eliza Dent of Athens. 

William Crosby Dawson, lawyer, soldier and statesman 
was born June 4, 1798 in Greene County, which at that time 
was on the frontier. The family came from England by way of 
Virginia. He grew up amid the hardships and privations of a 
frontier settlement. 

After studying under Dr. Cummin he entered Franklin 
College and graduated in 1816. He then studied law under 
Thomas Cobb of Lexington and then went to the famous law 
school at Litchfield, Conn, and after completing his courses 
there he came back to Ga. and was admitted to the bar. He 
was Clerk of the House of Representatives twelve years, com¬ 
piler of the laws of Ga. from 1820-30, a Rep. and Senator in 
the State legislature, Captain in a volunteer company in the 
Creek war of 1836; Representative in Congress 1836-41; Judge 
of the Superior Court of the Ocmulgee Circuit and a United 
States Senator from 1849 to 1855. When he left Washington 
he was presented with a silver pitcher and two silver emboss¬ 
ed goblets from the city in token of his services as city chairman 
of the committee of the District of Columbia. He died on May 
5, 1856 in his 59th year, in Greensboro. 

Crawford was picked and trained for Jeffersonian party 
leadership by Albert Gallatin and during his rise to power in 
Ga. his main opponent was John Clark. Crawford’s home was 
called “Woodlawn”. In a duel Crawford killed Peter Van Allen. 
As Sec. of the treasury he won fame for wiping out the national 
debt. When Crawford ran for Pres, of the U.S.A. there were 
only 24 states in the Union. His chances to win the presidency 
were crushed when he suffered a stroke from the wound he 
received in the duel with Van Allen. 

REDMOND THORNTON 

Redmond Thornton and wife, Sarah Alford Thornton of 
Va. were early settlers in Greene County about 1786. They had 
four children, three sons and a daughter. He was the great 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


327 


grandson of Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. 

He was an educated man and it is thought that he designed 
and directed the building of the house recently bought by the 
Atlanta Art Association. The story of the house and restoration 
will be found under “Homes,” Chapter VIII, also the picture 
before it was restored. The home and much of the original lands 
remained in the hands of the Thornton family for over 100 
years. 

Thornton had many slaves and lived the life of the country 
gentleman, growing cotton and fine horses and cattle. He edu¬ 
cated his children and his name is found on many of the records. 

Harry Thornton and Miss Lola Richards of Atlanta are 
descendants of Redmond Thornton and no doubt there are 
many others unknown to the writer. 

DR. JOHN E. WALKER 

Dr. John E. Walker was a beloved physician and trained 
many young men to become doctors. He took them into his 
office and directed their course of study, such as materia medi- 
ca, chemistry, Latin, and Dungelson’s medical dictionary. They 
would also accompany him on his trips to see his patients and 
would learn to diagnose illnesses, watch his procedure and the 
remedies that he used. These boys would look after the office 
and after several years of study the Doctor would recommend 
them to a Medical College. A diploma from a High School or 
college was not a prerequisite for admission to Medical College. 
After two or three years in this college, he stood examination 
and if passed he was given a diploma to practice medicine. 

Dr. Walker owned a drug store with Torbert in 1886, and 
his hobby was collecting metal scrap of which he had tons on 
his land. He also preserved tumors and growths which he had 
removed from his patients. He set a date to die when he became 
very old, and called in three of his brother Masons; Judge W. 
M. Weaver, Martin Markwalter and T. B. Rice and told them 
just when he would die and to give him a Masonic funeral. He 
died near the time he had set and his wishes were carried out. 


328 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


His daughters were: Mrs. J. E. Tolbert, and Mrs. L. H. 
Branch. 

JULIUS SAUNDERS ( Sanders ) 

Mrs. Fletcher King of 3801 Jackson Blvd., Birmingham, 
Ala., a granddaughter of Robert Leroy Saunders sends in infor¬ 
mation that Julius Saunders her g.g. grandfather was shown on 
indentures in Greene County in 1792-97. In the 1830 census in 
White Co. Tenn. he is listed with son Robert Uriah Saunders. 
Julius died in White Co. Tenn. and his wife Catherine Pound 
Saunders with son Robert migrated to Marshall Co. Miss, and 
also a daughter, Sarah. Robert had a son David Crockett Saun¬ 
ders. The children of Julius and Catherine Pound known are: 
Susan b. 1793 in Ga. mar. William J. Harlowe, had ch. Barney, 
Nancy and John. 

The second child Sarah born in Ga. 1805, unmarried. (3) 

Uriah Robert, b. Ga. 1810 mar. Mary_,ch. William C., 

1830, Angela, 1832 White Co. Tenn. mar. Rufus B, Ragan in 
Miss, had dau. Mary C. b. 1850 Tenn., David C. b. 1835 called 
“Crockett” had dau. Mary. (4) Julius C. b. 1812, Ga. mar. 
Susan Hudson,, Apr. 17, 1837 Miss. d. 1850’s in Hind’s Co. 
Miss. (5) Elizabeth, b. Tenn. (6) Martha, b. 1820, Tenn. in 
1860 was in Marshall Co. Miss. mar. John Hensley, ch. Sally, 
Mary, Mary Mann (Merriman), John M., Alexander, Thomas. 

REDDS AND OTHER PROMINENT FAMILIES 

Charles and Elizabeth Redd were prominent landowners 
in Greene County. They were members of the Shiloh Baptist 
church and sold the land where Mercer University was built. 

Nicholas Lewis was a prominent lawyer and speculator in 
Greene Co. lands and lots. He built the home where Dr. and 
Mrs. T. B. Rice lived in 1797 and Lewis lived there until 1833. 

Oliver Porter Daniel the grandson of Major Oliver Porter 
was at one time Greene County’s foremost citizen and a wealthy 
planter. 

Archibold Scott was an eminent educator and taught George 
Foster Pierce. He was the father of Dr. William J. Scott who 
founded and edited Scott’s magazine of Atlanta during the 70’s. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


329 


Judge John C. Hart, a distinguished former Attorney- 
General of Georgia was born near Union Point. 

Nathaniel G. Foster, was a member of Congress and a 
Baptist minister as well as his brother Albert G. Foster a law¬ 
yer, of that period. 

William Bird and, his wife Catherine of Warrens County 
lived in Greene Co. in 1804. Other members of this family are 
listed in deed books as: Mark Bird from S. C., Job and Judith 
Bird, George Bird, Zachariah Bird, Price and John Bird, Phile¬ 
mon and John Bird. Michael Bird married Susanna Lovern, 
Wm. Bird mar. Nancy Hudson, Fitzgerald Bird mar. Eliza B. 
Springer in 1825, Joseph Bird mar. Lucretia Watson in 1825. 
Dr. Thompson Bird mar. Susan Williamson and moved to 
Powellton, Hancock Co. He built the home which he sold to 
Alexander Stephens. 

The Blanks family is found in old deed and marriage books 
in Greene Co. William Blanks mar. Jane Hill in 1799, and 
Nancy Young in 1819. Other names found are: James, Nancy 
and William, Jr., Joseph, Henry and Jefferson Blanks. 

William and Mary Lee left a will naming their children: 
Nathan, Elizabeth Jett, Moses Lee, Stephen and David. (Will 
Book F) 

Jonathan Haralson married Jane Huston in 1782 in N. C. 
but married Clara Browning Culberson in Greene County. Wil¬ 
liam Browning Haralson was born in 1799 in Penfield. Jonathan 
had brothers, Abner, James, Herndon (Rev. Sol.) d. in Tenn., 
Vincent d. in Ga., Major d. in Texas. Clara Browning Haralson 
died in LaGrange, Ga. and is buried there with her son Gen. 
Hugh Anderson Haralson for whom Haralson Co. is named 
and the town of Haralson. Several of this familys’ wills are on 
record in Greene Co. 

THE FIRST JACKSON DAY DINNER WAS HELD 
IN GREENSBORO, GA. 

On May 31, 1820, Major General Andrew Jackson come 
to Greene County, Georgia, in his old high-wheel sulkey for the 


330 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


purpose of having a settlement with his uncles, Alexander, John 
and William Allison. All three of them had been Revolutionary 
soldiers and had received land grants in the State of Tennessee. 
Like many others of that day, they failed to look after their 
grants and “squatters” settled on their lands When they learn¬ 
ed of the “squatters claim” they employed their nephew, An¬ 
drew Jackson, to run them off and clear the titles to the pro¬ 
perty ,which he did, and his visit to Greene County was for 
the purpose of having a settlement with his uncles. His pre¬ 
sence was not known to others than his kinsmen; and it was by 
accident that Col. Robert E. Martin, in passing the Allison 
home, discovered the distinguished guest. He came, post haste, 
to Greensboro and spread the news which resulted in the 
following correspondence: 


Greensboro, Ga., June 2, 1820. 


“Major General Andrew Jackson, 

We the undersigned, have been deputed as a committee in behalf 
of the citizens of this village, to manifest their respect and gratitude 
toward you, for the important military services which you have ren¬ 
dered your country, and as the highest testimony of their wishes and 
feeling on this occasion, we are instructed to request that you will 
favor us with your company to partake of a dinner which will be 
prepared at Mr. Thomas W. Grimes, in this place, this afternoon, 
with a view of paying you that respect and honor due to such impor¬ 
tant services. We, as a committee, take this opportunity of individ¬ 
ually expressing our gratification at your appearance in our village, 
and of further expressing our sincere wishes for your future pros¬ 
perity and happiness. And we sanguinely hope that you will find it 
to comport with your convenience to attend. 

We have the honor to be, with consideration and respect, your 
fellow citizens 

Thomas I. Moore 
Thomas Greer 
Sterling Grimes 
Nicholas Lewis 

Franklin C. Heard, Committee 


“At two o’clock, a numerous collection of our fellow citizens, 
together with our distinguished guest and his aide, Captain Call, sat 
down to an elegant dinner prepared at Mr. Grimes. After the cloth 
was removed the following toasts were drunk: 

1. This Union—May it be as lasting as the firmament. 

2. The memory of General George Washington—He does and ever 
should live in the hearts of his countrymen. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


3. The President of the United States, the firm and enlightened 
statesman—may his strength be reflected in the conduct of his 
successors. 

4. The Heads of Departments.— 

The old adage, ‘There is wisdom in the multiplicity of councils.) 

5. The Missouri Question.— 

It has excited much argument. It has exposed individual views. 
May the King of the North be confined to his own dominion. 

6. The Army of the United States.— 

The safeguard of our liberties in time of war, the guarantee of 
perpetuity in time of peace. 

7. The Laurels of Liberty.— 

Natives of America, may they become flourishing exotics in the 
climes of despotism. 

8. The Navy of the United States.— 

Man for man, and gun for gun, the UNITED STATES against 
the world. 

9. American Independence.— 

The Temple of Liberty, the admiration of the world. 

10. Commodore Stephen Decatur.— 

In his fall our navy galaxy has lost one of its brightest orna¬ 
ments. 

11. A volunteer toast by General Jackson, 

The Governor of Georgia. 

12. The General having retired,— 

To our distinguished guest, Major-General Andrew Jackson.— 
His military fame has spread from shore to shore. May he long 
live, the active defender of his country’s rights. 


THE BANQUET 

“The banquet—according to the King papers—which was given 
in General Jackson’s honor was one of the grandest affairs which the 
people of this section had ever known. Prominent men from all over 
middle Georgia were in attendance.” Speeches were made and enjoy¬ 
ment ran high, and the night and the banquet were long famous in 
the history of good old Greene.” 


LEAVING FOR HOME 

“General Jackson made the trip from his Tennessee home in his 
own sulky, and returned in the same unostentacious manner. His de¬ 
parture, however, was witnessed by hundreds of admirers, and he 
drove away amid the huzzas of the gathered crowd. The visit, though 
one of private business, became eventful, and the presence of “Old 
Hickory” on Greene’s soil was the subject of conversation for many 
months afterwards.” 

VOLUNTEER TOASTS AT THE DINNER 
TO GENERAL JACKSON. 

By Col. Joshua Horton, (President of the Day)—The Memory of 
Peter Early. 


332 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


By Judge Christopher B. Strong,—May the internal improvement in 
the State of Tennessee equal her valor in the field! 

By Major Thomas I. Moore.—May an equilibrium of rights be ob¬ 
served between the north, the south, and the east and west! 

By Major Franklin C. Heard.—General Gaines of the United States 
Army. 

By Dr. Thomas Wingfield.—May the Congress of the United States 
reward merit and condemn envy! 

By Mathew Wells, Esq.—The Patriots of South America. Success to 
their efforts against foreign tyrrany, and may their internal 
government be founded upon the principles of equal rights! 

By Captain Woodlawn.—May we obtain the Floridas without the 
shedding of blood! 

By Nicholas Lewis, Esq.—The new government of Spain, the Cortes. 
May it be as enlightened and virtuous as the old government was 
vicious. 

The above story appeared in The Augusta Chronicle and Geor¬ 
gia Gazette of July 1, 1820. And, on June 12, 1885, The Greensboro 
Herald-Journal published a lengthy article referring to General Jack¬ 
son’s visit to Greensboro and the banquet that was given in his 
honor. 

The Herald-Journal article was based upon some correspondence 
between General Andrew Jackson and Col. Yelverton P. King of 
Greensboro. Col. Yelverton King’s son, Dr. H. H. King, in looking 
through his father’s old papers discovered the Jackson-King corre¬ 
spondence and loaned it to the Editor of The Herald-Journal. 

The King papers show that Mr. Robert E. Martin discovered the 
presence of General Jackson at the Allison home, some two miles 
from Greensboro. He met the General and came post haste to 
Greensboro and spread the news of the distinguished soldier’s pres¬ 
ence. 

A committee of Greensboro citizens consisting of Judge Fran¬ 
cis H. Cone, William C. Dawson, A. B. Longstreet—the author of 
“Georgia Scenes”, Judge Thomas Stocks, and others waited upon 
General Jackson and tendered him an invitation to a reception at 
the Grimes Hotel. 


A GREENSBORO, GA. ROW CAUSED THE DEFEAT 
OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE 
UNITED STATES AND LED TO FOUR DUELS 

A thief, a counterfeit gang, and a shyster lawyer not only 
caused four duels and the defeat of William H. Crawford who 
was a candidate for the Presidency of these United States, but 
disrupted families, brought on a political war that led to the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


333 


unseating of every Circuit Judge in Georgia, save one, and 
brought about the election of George M. Troup, one of Geor¬ 
gia’s greatest Governors. All of this was brought about by an 
unguarded remark by a Judge of the Western Circuit while 
holding Court in the County of Greene, in the year of our Lord, 
1806 . 

Nor, was this the final chapter of this tragic event: the 
defeat of William H. Crawford meant the election of Andrew 
Jackson President of these United States. Andrew Jackson’s 
election shook the very foundations of Washington society. 
The scandal that had centered around Peggy O’Neal and Sen¬ 
ator Eaton was forgotten for the moment, and the idea of 
Rachael Jackson becoming the First Lady of the Land, seem¬ 
ed destined to disrupt Washington society and cast a shadow 
over White House functions for years to come. However, 
Rachael’s timely death relieved the situation. Her nieces, the 
Donalson girls, were acceptable to Washington society and 
everybody was happy, except Andrew Jackson. He never de¬ 
serted a friend or turned his back to a foe. He insisted that 
Senator Eaton’s wife should be graciously received at the White 
House; but his nieces demurred. They were banished for their 
lack of co-operation, and sent back to Tennessee. 

“That man, from the wilds of Tennessee” this being the 
constant reference to Jackson, elected by the common people, 
never enjoyed a moment’s rest from his political enemies; and 
poor Rachael’s character was assailed on every side. His arch¬ 
enemies, the John C. Calhouns’ and Henry Clay, saw to that; 
and Nicholas Biddle, President of the United States Bank, 
supplied money to try to check his every move; but he, too, 
felt the weight of the mailed fist of Andrew Jackson and, to¬ 
gether with his moneyed friends, went down in defeat and fi¬ 
nancial ruin. 

The Clark-Crawford-Tait feud resulted in a triumph for 
Clark; he was elected Governor of Georgia and ruled the 
State with a rod of iron. The bullet from his pistol in a duel 
had so weakened Crawford’s constitution that a partial stroke 
resulted. His political enemies made capital of his physical 


334 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


weakness and spread the report that, “If he was elected, he was 
not physically able to fill the office,” so he was defeated. 

Judge Charles Tait, after leaving the bench, was elected 
United States Senator from Georgia, and served from 1809 to 
1819. On May 1, 1822, in Sparta, Ga., he married the widow of 
John Clark’s brother-in-law and friend, Judge John Griffin. 
They moved to Mobile, Ala., where Judge Tait practiced law 
until his death. 

Gen. John Clark was a war hero and felt very “cocky”, 
about it. After the Revolutionary War Clark settled in Wilkes 
county. He dropped the “e” off the family name of Clarke be¬ 
cause he thought it would be a democratic gesture. He helped 
to guard the state’s coastal defenses during the War of 1812. 
He won his second term as governor by a two vote majority. 
On Jefferson Street in Milledgeville he lashed Charles Tait. 
During Clark’s two terms as governor the state was considered 
wealthy. Clark was prominent in Greene county relations and 
politics. 

The Clark party met its “Waterloo” when Thomas Stocks, 
a Greene County man, then President of the Georgia Senate, 
cast the vote that broke the tie, and elected George M. Troup 
Governor of Georgia. Realizing that he was politically dead, 
in Georgia, Ex Gov. John Clark accepted an appointment, under 
the President of the United States, and became custodian of all 
public lands in Florida. He died of Yellow Fever, at St. And¬ 
rews Bay, Fla., on October 12, 1832. His wife soon followed 
him in death. William H. Crawford survived his arch-enemy 
by some two years, and died at “Woodlawn,” his country home, 
on Sept. 15, 1834. 

ORIGIN OF THE QUARREL BETWEEN JOHN CLARK 
AND WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD 

Judge Garnett Andrews’ “Reminiscences of an Old Geor¬ 
gia Lawyer, pp. 9: 

General Clark!s Version 

“A man by name of Clary-accused as horse-thief was arrested 
in Greene County and carried before Judge Tait for (1 presume) 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


335 


inquiry—and who (Clary) charged General Clark with complicity. 
Mr. Clark, I think was attorney for the prosecution. Whatever faults 
General Clark may have had, he was entirely above the suspicion of 
anything so disgraceful. I think the meeting between Clark and Craw¬ 
ford grew out of this affair. It is proper to say that Clark accused 
the; Judge and Crawford with instigating Clary to make the charge.” 

Note: Judge Garnett Andrews further states that he got the informa¬ 
tion from a booklet or pamphlet written by General Clark and 
entitled “A Legacy for my Children,” see pages 74, 75, 76, 


Clark-Crawford Feud. 

Clark accused Crawford of having manipulated Judge Griffin’s 
defeat and Tait’s election as judge of the Western Circuit. Craw¬ 
ford and Tait were law-partners; Tait maintaining an office at El- 
berton and Crawford at Lexington. Peter Van Allen of Elberton, 
a young lawyer of note, had allied himself with the Clark faction; 
Van Allen had brought some petty suit against Judge Tait, and was 
merciless in his satire. This riled the Judge who challenged Van 
Allen for a duel, but the challenge was declined. This drew Craw¬ 
ford into the fray and he was challenged by Van Allen. Crawford 
accepted the challenge, reluctantly, and killed Van Allen. 

Two years later, John Clark challenged William H. Crawford 
to mortal combat; but friends entervened. Still later, Clark again, 
challenged Crawford, Crawford accepted the challenge and, accord¬ 
ing to custom, details were arranged and they met at High Shoals, 
in Walton County, Crawford fired first and missed his man. Clark’s 
pistol shattered Crawford’s wrist. Clark was not satisfied but Craw¬ 
ford’s principal declined to allow another shot. 

Note quickly these events followed the affair in the Court¬ 
house in Greensboro. 


Judge Dooly takes a hand in the feud. 

John M. Dooly, Solicitor General for the Western Circuit, 
was present and had some part in the examination of Clary when 
this tragic investigation took place in the Courthouse in Greens¬ 
boro. Solicitor Dooly was elevated to the bench. He had some con¬ 
troversy with his predecessor, Judge Tait out of which, grew a 
misunderstanding and, being a member of thei Clark faction, it is 
not surprising that bitter feeling was developed. 

Judge Tait challenged Judge Dooly to mortal combat, Dooly 
accepted the challenge; Dooly chose John Clark as his second, and 
Tait chose William H. Crawford. The principals and seconds met 
according to agreement: but, according to tradition, when Tait and 
Crawford arrived upon the scene of battle, Judge Dooly was setting 
on a stump and his second, John Clark, was not there. Upon being 
asked where he was? Dooly replied ‘‘Gen. Clark is in the woods 
looking for a bee-gum”. May I enquire,” asked Crawford,” what use he 
intends to make of a bee-gum?” 

“I want to put my leg in it,” replied Dooly, “Do you suppose for 
a minute that I am going to risk a good leg of flesh and blood 




336 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


against Tait’s wooden stump?” If I hit his leg he can get another 
one before tomorrow morning; but if he hits mine I may lose my 
life; certainly my leg; and to put myself on equal footing with Tait, 
I must have a bee-gum for protection. I can then fight on equal 
terms.” 

“Then am I to understand that you do not intend to fight Judge 
Tait?”, enquired Mr. Crawford. “Well”, responded Judge Dooly, I 
thought everyone knew that.” 

“Perhaps so,” replied Mr. Crawford, “but you will fill a news¬ 
paper column in consequences of this day’s business.” 

“So be it,” replied Judge Dooly, with an arch smile, “I would 
rather fill a dozen newspapers than one coffin.” 

Note: The Tate-Dooly fiasco was copied from Lucian Lamar Knight’s 
“Georgia Landmarks Memorials and Legends”, the balance of 
the story was gathered from old newspaper files, Judge Garnett 

Andrews’ book, and the minutes of the Greene Superior Court. 

(3-21-41) T. B. R. 


Now for John Clark, the boy of seven 
years, who came to Georgia in 1773. 

Like his father, John Clark was a physical giant, and, like 
Andrew Jackson, he had some part in the American Revolution. He 
could not have been morei than fifteen years old when the Battle of 
Kettle Creek was fought; but he knew how to go gunning for 
Tories and Indians long before the battle. He did not gain the title 
of General for services during the Revolution; but he distinguished 
himself in the Indian wars that followed—the battle with the Indians 
at Jack’s Creek in 1787, in what is now Morgan County, may have 
won him that distinction. 

That John was a “Rounder”, there can be no doubt. Soon after 
reaching manhood, he turned his attention toward marriage, and 
began paying court to an orphan girl by the name of Shivers—a 
younger sister of Mrs. Jesse Mercer. The family resented his at¬ 

tentions and forbade her from seeing him. That she encouraged him, 
is bourne out by her actions. On a bitter, cold night when the 

ground was covered with snow and sleet, she eloped with her lover, 
rode behind him on a fleet-footed horse, and they went in search of 
a parson, who would pronounce them man and wife. After traveling 
many miles the girl became ill and intensely cold; they stopped at 
the home of a friend who kindly took them in and tried to make 
the girl comfortable. She had a chill, developed pneumonia and died 
during the night. 

The girl’s family were notified of what had happened; and this 
was the beginning of the bitter hatred that Rev. Jessei Mercer held 
for John Clark so long as they both lived. Nor, did Rev. Mercer, 

and the Baptists, ever cease to fight John Clark and his political 

ring. The Methodists also took a hand, and when finally met his 
political Waterloo, they all shouted “Thank God, John Clark and the 
Devil have been defeated.” 

After John Clark’s disappointment in his first love affair, he 
turned his attentions toward a beautiful daughter of his father’s com- 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


337 


panion in arms, Col. Micajah Williamson. Somehow Nancy William¬ 
son fell for Clark’s attentions, and they were soon married. As to 
whether peace and harmony prevailed in their home, this writer 
sayeth not; but, if she preserved peace in the home, she was either 
a saint or a devil. 

This is typical of John Clark’s career: 

Minutes of the Greene, Superior Court in the early 
eighteen-hundreds; General presentments by the 
Grand Jury: 

The State ) 

Vs ) Indictment for Riot. 

John Clark ) 

and ) 

Hugh McCall ) 

The evidence shows that John Clark came to Greensboro, while 
court was in session, brought a number of his pals with him, and 
precipitated a row on the streets of Greensboro, and it assumed the 
proportions of a riot. Clark and McCall plead guilty and paid the 
fine assessed by the court. 

Hugh McCall was from a good family, and later became Geor-. 
gia’s first Historian. McCall’s History tells much of Revolutionary 
times, in Georgia and South Carolina. 

(He, like “Poor dog Tray”, seems to have 
fallen in with the wrong crowd). 

That harmony did not prevail between John Clark and the Wil¬ 
liamson clan, is evidenced by such early Georgia writers as William 
H. Sparks, author of “Memories of Fifty Years”, and who knew the 
Clarks and Williamsons, personally. He was one of the attendants 
at Ann Clark’s wedding (daughter of John Clark) when she married 
John W. Campbell in the old Governor’s Mansion in Milledgeville- 
while her father was Governor. 

Sparks left for the west immediately after the wedding, with his 
pal, young Robert M. Williamson. Sparks remained in New Orleans- 
while Williamson went on to Texas. They never saw each other 
again. In 1881, when Sparks was an old man, he returned to Geor¬ 
gia and, while visiting in Atlanta, by accident, he met Ann Clark 
Campbell. More than fifty years had passed since he had seen he** 
She was a widow and was living in Galveston, Texas. They recog¬ 
nized each other on sight; and what a glorious time they had while 
reminiscing! Ann Clark Campbell had three sons who had become 
prominent lawyers and physicians in Texas, and each of them were 
around six feet and six inches tall; Sparks had just visited Greens¬ 
boro and Greene County, where he was born in the year 1800, and 
where he had been admitted to the Bar. Most of his old friends had 
passed into the “Great Beyond”, so hei visited the cemetery and read 
the inscriptions on their tombs. These events together with the urgent 
request of Governor Lumpkin, induced him to write his “Memories 
of Fifty Years”—one of the most interesting books on Early Georgia. 

After meeting Ann Clark Campbell, he felt constrained to de¬ 
scribe the scene of Ann Clark’s wedding. His story was published in 
The Atlanta Constitution, and was published in January 1881. He not 


/ 


338 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


only gave a clear description of the wedding, but told of the worries 
and troubles Ann Clark and her aunt, Mrs. L. Q. C. Lamar, had in 
establishing a truce between the Clark and Williamson factions. She 
succeeded; but the nervous strain was so great on her aunt, Mrs. 
Thompson Bird, that it brought on a heart attack, and shei died while 
the dancers were on the floor. However the “hatchet was buried” 
for the occasion only; and hostilities were renewed as soon as the 
wedding was over; nor, did it ever cease until John Clark was laid 
low by Yellow Fever, and buried on the banks of St. Andrews Bay, 
in Florida. 


Chapter X 

FACTS ABOUT GREENE COUNTY AND GREENSBORO 

Greene County is so rich in history, so steeped in tradi¬ 
tion so indelibly associated with the development of the South 
that this, the eleventh county in Georgia, bears a great dis¬ 
tinction. 

Some of the most interesting facts about the county are: 

In 1897 the first telephones were installed and T. B. Rice 
was soon “the telephone man”, also in 1897 the changing of 
the spelling of Greenesborough was changed to Greensboro, a 
fact which Dr. Rice fought with all his might, but to no avail. 

In 1886 Bethany Presbyterian Church was 100 years old. 

Dr. Thomas Woodrow was tried for heresy, by the Au¬ 
gusta Presbytery for discussing Darwins theory too favorably 
to suit his fellow churchmen. The “monkey trial” lasted two 
days and Dr. Woodrow was acquitted. He was the grandfather 
of the young lawyer Thomas Woodrow Wilson, (Pres, of 
U.S.A.). 

J. Edgar Thompson, a former citizen of Greensboro 
changed the name of Marthasville to Atlanta. The Grants’, 
the Adlers’ and many other prominent Atlantians came from 
Greene County. 

In 1820 the first Jackson Day dinner was held and Gen. 
Andrew Jackson was there in person. 

The bloodless conquest of Florida had its origin in Greens¬ 
boro. 

It was at Greensboro that the first trail to the west was 
started linking this town with Walnut Hills, now Vicksburg, 
Miss. 

It was from Greensboro that Alabama’s greatest states¬ 
man, Benjamin Fitzpatrick, trekked across the border. 

Talk about the message to Garcia, well a Greene Co. man 
named Samuel Dale made the record horseback ride and car- 


339 


340 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ried the message to Gen. Andrew Jackson during the battle 
of New Orleans. 

Major Oliver Porter was four times a Presidential elector. 

Teachers in the early schools were: Louisa M. Alcott, 
(1830’) William H. Seward (Sec. of War), Dr. Thos. Wood- 
row, Moses Waddel, Alexander Means, Rev. Francis Cum¬ 
mins, Dr. Joseph R. Wilson, (father of Pres. Woodrow Wil¬ 
son), I. S. K. Axon, (father of Ellen Axon Wilson), Dr. 
Francis Bowman, Ann Maria Lyman, from Northampton, 
Mass., and many others. 

Adiel Sherwood’s Gazetteer was written while he was the 
pastor of Greensboro Baptist Church. 

Ga‘s first Agricultural Society was organized in Greene 
Co. 

Nationally known men and women once were citizens of 
Greene. 

Dr. Mary Harris Armour, Dr. John Roach Stratton, Judge 
Samuel H. Sibley, Dr. Nathan Hoyt grandfather of Mrs. 
Woodrow Wilson taught here, Dr. Francis Goulding wrote 
“The Young Marooners” and taught here. 

The thirteen mayors of Greensboro since it was incor¬ 
porated in 1856 to 1897 were: Yelverton P. King, 1856-63, 
F. C. Fuller, 1857-58, Jas. L. Brown, 1859-64, Phillip B. 
Robenson, 1861, Reuben J. Dawson, 1862, Tunis Tunison, 
1865, W. G. Johnson 1866-71, Wm. M. Weaver, 1871-78, 
1892, W. H. Branch, 1878-81, James B. Park, Sr., 1881-84, 
and 1893-96, H. T. Lewis, 1884, 1889-91, Edward Young, 
1896-98. 

In 1897 Aldermen were: Thaddeus B. Rice, and James B. 
Williams. 

The house where Pres. Andrew Jackson stayed while he 
was a mule driver, years before he became President, is still 
standing near Greensboro. While here he always visited his 
old North Carolina teacher, Dr. Francis Cummins. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


341 


Four men were sentenced to be hanged for forgery in 
Greene County in the year 1800. They rode on their coffins to 
the execution grounds, where their funeral sermons were preach¬ 
ed by Dr. Cunningham, after which he handed them their par¬ 
dons. 


P. Lorillard, the snuff king and racehorse owner, always 
had the hay cut and cured for his fine horses in Greene County. 

Rev. Thomas Bowen, of Greensboro wrote the Yoraba 
language (African), chartered the Yoraba country in West 
Africa and published a map of that section and was the first 
Baptist missionary to enter Brazil, South America. His lan¬ 
guage book was used to translate the Bible into Yoraba and is 
still used in that country. 

A Greene County man, Mercer Reynolds discovered the 
process of solidifying cotton seed oil thereby making it possible 
to ship the oil in blocks instead of barrels or tank cars. Mr. 
Reynolds now lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. (1941) 

Joel Early, the father of Peter Early, is said to have built 
the finest home north of Savannah. It was located near Scull 
Shoals in Greene Co. and was known as “Early’s Manor” being 
built prior to 1800. 

John Clark, who later became Governor of Georgia, and 
Hugh McCall, Georgia’s first historian, were jointly indicted 
for riot. The assault was made on John Foster Pierce, father 
of Bishop Pierce. 

A Georgia man presided over the first court held in the 
Republic of Texas in 1837. This court was held under a spread¬ 
ing live oak tree in the town of Columbus, Texas. The culprit 
was charged with grand larceny and found guilty and sentenced 
to be branded with a hot iron with the letter “T” for thief and 
given thirty-nine lashes on the back and fined $500.00 and 
chained to the tree until the fine was paid. This Judge was 
Robert M. Williamson who was born in Wilkes Co. Ga. The 
court tree is still standing (1941) and bears a marker with 
the story on it 


342 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Elberton was a port on the Ogeechee River in 1799 and 
was not far from where the town of Millen now stands. 

In 1799 while Alabama was a part of Georgia there was 
a town at the confluence of the Coosa and Talapoosa rivers 
spelled Alabama and the Indian village just across the river 
was Coosade. The village was later known as Coosada and 
settled by Hancock Co. people exclusively. 

Although the dividing line between Ga. and South Caro¬ 
lina is the Savannah river, the entire river belongs to Geor¬ 
gia. This is due to the change in the channel of the river which 
occurred many years ago. Sand Bar Ferry was Georgia’s fam¬ 
ous dueling ground. 

Long before the telephone was invented, neighbors used 
Conch shells to convey messages to each other. A code was 
worked out whereby each blast had a definite meaning. T. B. 
Rice had one used by the Thomas Stocks family in Greensboro. 

Richard Henry Wilde, the poet-lawyer who lived in Geor¬ 
gia at Augusta put one over on Judge Peter Early and was 
admitted to the bar in Greensboro before he was of legal age. 
The records show where he was admitted. 

W. M. Tryon graduated from Mercer University at Pen- 
field Greene County and went to Texas as a Missionary. Later 
he and Dr. R. E. B. Baylor organized Baylor University at 
Independence, Texas which was later moved to Waco and is 
now one of the leading Universities of the South. 

Governor R. B. Hubbard of Texas graduated from Mer¬ 
cer University at Penfield, Greene Co. in 1851 and served 
two terms as Governor of the Lone Star State, later he was 
U. S. Minister to Japan. 

The town of Stone Mountain bore the name of New 
Gibralter in 1850 and Georgia’s first State Fair was held there. 

Thomas Stocks of Greensboro and Gen. Cocke of Tenn. 
met at Nickajack in May 1818 to run the dividing line be¬ 
tween Georgia and Tennessee. Stocks was the Boundary Com¬ 
missioner of Georgia and James Camak was the Surveyor and 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


343 


mathematician. Camak was one of the founders of the Georgia 
railroad and Camak, Ga. was named for him. 

Georgia’s first Agricultural Club was organized at Pen- 
field in the 1830’s and out of it grew Georgia’s Department of 
Agriculture. Thomas Stocks was its President and the father 
of the Department of Agriculture. It’s first Commissioner was 
Thomas P. Janes from Greene Co. The Beach Island Club got 
its inspiration from Penfield and organized and for 85 years 
has met each month except when the War Between the States 
made it impossible. 

Georgia’s first chain store operator and perhaps the first 
in the South was George Galphin the pre-Revolution Indian 
trader. He operated stores throughout what is now, Georgia, 
Alabama and Mississippi. He operated on a credit basis and the 
Creeks and Cherokees in order to discharge their debts ceded 
him land. Wilkes County was created out of this land in 1777. 
The American Revolution prevented Galphin from cashing in 
on the sale of these lands, and he died while litigation was 
pending, however his heirs received $300,000. 

Fish and game played an important part in the life of 
the early settlers and almost every stream was lined with fish 
traps. The two important fisheries in Greene Co. were the 
Yazoo and the Methodist fisheries. Both were incorporated 
and each had twelve share-holders, and one for each month 
in the year. That meant that each share holder was responsi¬ 
ble for looking after the traps and dividing the fish, and the 
by-laws provided if the traps were damaged by freshets or 
otherwise, that the member on duty should notify all sharehold¬ 
ers to send helpers to repair the damage and if anyone failed to 
send help he was to forfeit his fishing privileges for one year. 

Many of the descendants of Major Oliver Porter of 
Greene Co. Ga. have special dials made for their watches, 
instead of numerals they spell out the words Oliver Porter. 
Thus they keep green the memory of their worthy ancestor. 

Many of the stories in A. B. Longstreet’s “Georgia 
Scenes” were written while he was in Greensboro and some of 
the characters were people here that he knew. 


344 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Churches were very strict in the early days of Greene 
County and the records show where men were tried and exclud¬ 
ed from membership w 7 hich was at that time carried the same 
social standing as an ex-convict. Some of the records that the 
charges were brought for chicken fighting on Sunday, betting 
on horse races, false measures in grain and cider, taking roast¬ 
ing ears from a neighbors field, profane language before ladies, 
retaining a plow that a neighbor had loaned him, that he had 
put dirty cotton in the center of the bale with good cotton on 
the outside, and for immorality. Often these “brothers,” would 
come to a called conference and confess their sins and ask for¬ 
giveness and would be restored to the privileges of membership, 
ship. 

Samuel Whatley, a Revolutionary soldier whose father 
and Uncle were killed by Indians at Cherokee corner, in Geor¬ 
gia, was twice captured by Indians and Tories, twice hanged and 
twice shot but he managed to live to a ripe old age and his 
grave has a Federal marker. 

In the 1790’s tobacco was legal tender in Georgia and it 
was a capital offense for any warehouse owner or employee 
to change the weight, name, markings or any description on 
the hogshead or other container. The penalty prescribed by law 
for such conduct was, “To be hanged by the neck until dead and 
denied the benefit of clergy.” 

The minutes of Bethesda Church in Greene County, Ga. 
show where as late as 1817, the Greene County Militia was 
asked to furnish four armed guards to guard the church grounds 
at every service from lurking Indians. 

It is believed by many that Grier’s Almanac had its origin 
in Greene County at Greensboro. In 1800 an uncle of Robert 
Grier (author of the Almanac) taught school in Greene Coun¬ 
ty in the old Union Academy and his nephew, Robert Grier was 
one of his pupils studying higher mathematics and astronomy. 
At the age of twenty-one Robert fell heir to an almanac and 
calculations started by that uncle, Andrew Burns. Robert con¬ 
tinued astronomical calculations from a huge rock ten miles 
east of Crawfordsville, near Raytown. He married his first 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


345 


cousin Elizabeth Grier of Greene Co. and became an extensive 
planter and published his almanac. 

Robert Grier died in Butts County and is buried there. 
The Griers were Presbyterians and were members of the Beth¬ 
any Church. On Dec. 7, 1773 Robert’s father came from Penn¬ 
sylvania with a wife, four sons and two daughters and settled 
on 450 acres of land below Beaver Dam. This was near the 
line between Greene and Warren Counties. Like many of the 
Scotch-Irish of Georgia, they came from Pennsylvania to a 
milder climate and to rich cheap lands. No doubt that Benja¬ 
min Franklin’s Almanac inspired the Grier boy to create a simi- 
liar publication which made its bow in Culloden, Ga. Its im¬ 
portance in the home was only second to that of the Bible. 
No advertising was used in the first issues. 

The J. W. Burke Co. of Macon, Ga. became the publishers 
and later the owners of this Grier’s Almanac, they did not own 
the calculations which it is said that Robert Grier had made 
for 100 years ahead. These belonged to Otis Ashmore of Sa¬ 
vannah and from them the J. W. Burke Co. had to buy the 
calculations for each year. About 1865, J. H. Zelin, a Macon 
druggist, began buying space in Grier’s Almanac to advertise 
Simmon’s Liver Regulator and Darby’s Prophylactic Fluid, (of 
Culloden, Ga.) Zelin and Simmons had friction over the formu¬ 
la and copyright and this was in the courts. Lamar, Rankin and 
Lamar, wholesale druggists of Macon and Atlanta used the 
Almanac as an advertising medium and bought thousands of 
the almanacs from Burke Co. to distrubute to their customers. 
At this time (1941) the almanac belongs to John B. Daniel, 
Inc. in Atlanta. 

It was on Feb. 3, 1786 that an act of the Georgia Legis¬ 
lature which was meeting in Augusta created Greene County. 
This land was to be taken from the large County of Washing¬ 
ton which had been created two years before. 

The original boundaries started at Rock Landing, on the 
Oconee River, five miles below Milledgeville and following 
45 degree line to the Shoals of the Ogeechee, thence up the 
Ogeechee via of Union Point, to the Cherokee Corner; thence 


346 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


westward via Watkinsville to the High Shoals of the Appala- 
chee River; thence down the Appalachee and Oconee to the 
starting point. 

The first Superior court was held in Greene County in 
January in 1790 by Judge George Walton, signer of the De¬ 
claration of Independence. He and Judge Henry Osburn con¬ 
stituted the Supreme Court of Ga. and met here to formulate 
rules and regulations for the procedure of all courts of Ga. 

Greene County was in the Northern Circuit until the 
Ocmulgee was formed on Dec. 7, 1807 and Peter Early was the 
first Judge. Prior to 1877 all Judges were of the Superior 
courts of Ga. were appointed by the Governor and confirmed 
by the Senate. It was 1897 that this right was conferred on the 
people. 

Bethany Presbyterian Church was the first organized in 
Greene County in 1786 and Siloam, a nonsectarian church was 
built on cemetery hill. In 1821 the Presbyterians outnumbered 
all other denominations in Greene Co. About 1799 the Metho¬ 
dists organized their first church that stood where Col. and 
Mrs. Joseph G. Faust’s residence now stands. Bethesda Bap¬ 
tist, was once Whatley’s Mill church and was organized in 1785 
and was in Wilkes Co. until 1802. The present building was 
erected in 1818. Churches now extinct are: Scull Shoals, Beaver 
Dam, Ridge Grove, Oakland, Burks Chapel, Salem, Richland, 
Friendship and others. 

Union Point has three or four nice churches, Baptist, Meth¬ 
odist, and Presbyterian, and so has White Plains, Siloam and 
Greshamville built in later years. 

In the early part of 1800 a gold mine was operated at 
Union Point toward Daniel’s Spring and was known as the 
Mitchell Hill Gold Mine. 

Greensboro was once the home of Bishop Geo. F. Pierce 
and Bishop James O. Andrew. 

Greene County was the home of one J. Edgar Thompson, 
chief engineer of the Georgia railroad, the founder of St. 
Phillips church in Atlanta, and later the President of the 
Pennsylvania railroad. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


347 


Tradition says that of Georgia’s first three millionaires, 
two lived in Greene County, Dr. Thos. Poullain and Absolom 
Janes. 

Greene County was a refuge of those who fled from the 
yellow fever epidemic in Augusta, Savannah and Charleston. 
In their provender they brought the hated nut grass, which 
farmers cannot get rid of. 

The home of U. S. Senator Thomas W. Cobb and Wil¬ 
liam C. Dawson is still standing in Greensboro. 

The first Bermuda grass grown here was brought from 
Bermuda Islands for use as hay for the fine race horses of P. 
Lorillard. 

Morgan Co. and Jones Co. was formed out of a part of 
Baldwin Co. in 1807. Baldwin Co. was created in 1802 and in¬ 
cluded a vast territory south and west of the Oconee river. 
Many Greene Co. people moved over into Morgan Co. some 
were already there before the county was created. There were 
also in Baldwin some white families before it was created. For 
some reason the Indians seemed to tolerate their presence while 
the land was still occupied by them before any treaties had been 
made. 


First Courthouse and Jail 

The first courthouse, jail and gallows occupied the block 
immediately in front of the present jail. There is no record to 
show that there was ever held there a term of Superior Court. 
The second courthouse a more substantial building was built 
where the first one stood. This courthouse and jail were burn¬ 
ed by the pal of a runaway Negro who was confined in the 
jail in 1805 and the burning was published in the Augusta 
Chronicle. 

The third courthouse and old rock jail were built in 
1806-7 and the courthouse stood where the present courthouse 
stands. Probably some of the records of courts were lost as 
well as damaged by fire. 


348 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The fourth and present courthouse was built about 1848 
a most imposing three storied structure. A picture of this build¬ 
ing and the story will be found later. In the minute book of 
July 1806 page 187 we find that the Clerk was engaged to have 
a man erect stocks in the public square, and later the receipt 
for $2.50 to Resdon Walston was paid for building the stocks. 

GREENSBORO 1786-1860 

Soon after Greensboro was surveyed and laid out as a 
town, in May 1786, a few families bought lots and began 
erecting log huts in which to make their homes until they could 
build more comfortable houses. They realized the danger of 
Indians raids and one of the first things they did was to build 
a log Fort surrounded by upright posts set deep into the ground, 
and sharpened at the top so that the Indians could not climb 
over. 

From the best information obtainable, tradition handed 
down from generation to generation, this fort stood about where 
the new City Auditorium now stands. The fort and enclosure 
was large enough to hold the population and a company of 
soldiers. 

No doubt, the citizens were drilled to flee to the fort when¬ 
ever an alarm was sounded, and if tradition can be relied upon, 
the fort proved a haven of safety on more than one occasion. 

The following description of Greensboro appeared in the 
Greensboro Gazette of Dec. 14, 1859: 

“We are glad to note that our city is beginning to look 
up a little—that the spirit of improvement has taken hold upon 
some of our citizens, and that soon, some of those old weather¬ 
beaten, wooden houses, which occupy such conspicuous places 
on Main Street, in the business part of our city, and which seem 
to be almost ready to tumble down under their own weight, will 
be removed and brick buildings erected in their stead.” 

“The first and greatest improvement of which we are 
proud to speak, is that completed by our worthy townsman, Jas. 
W. Wingfield, Esq.” (the building now owned by Mr. Charles 
Poulos). 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


349 


“We have also, learned that the Messers Davis and J. F. 
Zimmerman, were going to put up brick buildings where their 
old store-houses now stand (meaning what is now known as the 
“Big Store”, the store where Mrs. Hunter’s drug store is, and 
the building now occupied by the Georgia Power Company). 

All three of the last named buildings were erected in 1860. 
Also, the two buildings occupied by Moore’s Pharmacy and the 
Bank of Greensboro. 

The building known as the “Brown Building” was owned 
and occupied by Wakefield, Murry & Co., and is probably, the 
oldest brick building on Main street. This firm did the leading 
business in Greensboro of that day, made a fortune and return¬ 
ed to their native home in Saratoga, N. Y. 

Originally, this was a three-story building; and, in 1860, 
we find the following advertisement: 

“A. F. Durst, Photographer, Ambrotypist, etc”, 

Studio occupies the upper floor of the Wakefield 

building.” 

The old “Norton Building,” opposite the Courthouse, is 
the only “old timer” left. It now belongs to Carey and Crans¬ 
ton Williams, and they are making plans for a new home for 
The Greensboro Herald-Journal. 

Note: Greensboro ranks sixth in points of age among the cities and 
towns in Georgia, that are now in existence, and her seniors 
are as follows: Savannah, Brunswick, St. Marys, Augusta and 
Washington, and the latter was just three years old when 
Greensboro came into existence. 


DAVID LOVE AND LOVE’S SPRING 

Most Greensboro citizens have heard of Love’s Spring all 
of their lives, but few of them know how the name originated 
or that they drink its sparkling water every day. This spring 
contributes a very important part of our city water supply. 
David Love bought one of the land lots that constituted the 
Richland Academy Survey; and his purchase included about 


350 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


100 acres of land in the suburbs of Greensboro. The Love land 
lays east of Walnut street, and is bounded on the south by 
Broad street and included a beautiful spring that now constitu¬ 
tes a part of the City of Greensboro’s water supply, and was 
bought by the writer some years ago for that purpose. 

For the past fifty years, the Love home has been known 
as the Mitchell lot. This old home was built about, the year 
1810, and it was to this home that David Love carried his 
bride, Elizabeth King when they were married on April 7, 
1810, therefore, this house is one of the oldest landmarks in 
Greensboro. However, this was not the David Love whom 
many people think the Spring was named for, but was his son. 

We are indebted to the Hon. W. H. Sparks, author of 
“Memories of Fifty Years” for the romantic story of Col. 
David Love who was among that small group of brave souls 
who settled in the Bethany neighborhood in 1784, while this 
territory belonged to Washington County. W. H. Sparks was 
a grandson of Col. David Love, and lived with his grand¬ 
mother near old Bethany Church after the death of Col. Love 
of whom Sparks wrote as follows: 

“Col. David Love was born and reared in North Carolina, 
and when his father married the second time, and as is frequent¬ 
ly the case, there was no harmony between step-mother and 
step-son. Their jarrings soon ripened into open war. To avoid 
expulsion from the parental roof he “bundled and went”. 

Nor did he rest until, in the heart of the Cherokee nation 
of Indians, he found a home with Dragon Canoe, then the 
principal warrior of the nation, who resided in a valley amid 
the mountains, and which is now Habershan County (Ga.). 
With this chief, who at that time was young, he remained for 
some four years, pursuing the chase for pleasure and profit. 
Thus accumulating a large quantity of peltries, he carried them 
on packhorses to Charleston, and thence went with them to 
Europe. After disposing of his furs, which proved profitable, 
he wandered on foot about Europe for some eighteen months, 
and then, returning to London, he embarked for America. Dur¬ 
ing all this time he had not heard from his family. Arriving 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


351 


at Charleston he made his way back to the neighborhood of his 
birth. He was ferried across the Pedee river by a buxom lass, 
who captured his heart. Finding his father dead, he gathered 
up the little patrimony left him by his father’s will, should he 
ever return to claim it; he then returned to the neighborhood 
of his sweetheart of the ferry; and, being a fine looking man 
of six feet three inches, with great blue eyes, round and liquid; 
and, Othello-like, telling well the story of his adventures, he 
very soon beguiled the maiden’s heart, and they were made one. 
About this time came off the battles of Concord and Lexington, 
inaugurating the Revolution.” 

It was not, however, until after the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence, that he threw aside the plough and shouldered the 
musket for American Independence. With his neighbors Love 
was a favorite; he was very fleet in a foot-race, and had re¬ 
markable strength; but, above all, was sagacious and strong of 
will. Such qualities, always appreciated by a rude people, and at 
that particular juncture brought their possessor prominently for¬ 
ward, and he was chosen Captain of a company composed al¬ 
most to a man of his personal friends and acquaintances. Uniting 
himself with the regiment of Colonel Lynch, just then organ¬ 
ized, and which was ordered to join the North Carolina line, 
they marched at once to join General Gates, then commanding 
the South. After Gates’ defeat, Love served under General Fran¬ 
cis Marion, (The Swamp Fox) and was promoted to Colonel, 
and became a terror to the Torries.” 

Of his grandmother Love, with whom Sparks went to live 
just twenty days after his grandfather’s death, Sparks wrote: 
“She was a little, fussy, Irish woman, a Presbyterian in religion, 
and a strict observer of all the duties imposed upon her sect, 
especially in keeping the holy Sabbath day. All her children 
were grown up, married, and, in the language of the time, 
“gone away.” It was a favorite pastime with my grandmother, 
when the morning’s work was done, to uncover her flax-wheel, 
seat herself, and call me to sit by her, and, in my childish man¬ 
ner, read to her from the “Life of General Francis Marion.” 
by Mason L. Weems, the graphic account of the General’s ex¬ 
ploits, by the venerable parson. There was not a story in the 


352 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


book that she did not know, almost as a party concerned, and 
she would ply her work of flax-spinning while she gave me close 
and intense attention.” 

Thus did W. H. Sparks acquire an intimate knowledge 
of his grandfather from his “fussy little Irish” grandmother 
who never could relish the fact that her grandson was named 
“Billy Crafford.” It was the glory of her life that she had 
seen General Washington, and every detail of his face and 
figure was told to the boy who read to her while her nimble 
fingers spun flax that she wove into linen cloth to make him 
trousers, which she often split with a paddle as she laid him 
across her lap and obeyed the injunction, “spare the rod and 
spoil the child.” 

This story of the early life of David Love, also reveals 
the fact that, there were white settlers dwelling among the 
Cherokee Indians, in north-east Georgia long years before 
Governor James Wright’s Land Court began functioning. 

And what a galaxy of notable men formed the bench and 
bar when W. H. Sparks practiced law in the courts of Greene, 
Baldwin, Putnam, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Wilkes and other 
counties in middle Georgia!! Augustus B. Longstreet, L. Q. 
C. Lamar Sr., Thomas W. Cobb, William C. Dawson, Yelver- 
ton P. King, Robert M. Williamson,, Alexander H. Stephens, 
Robert Tooms, William H. Crawford and countless other legal 
lights that have never been excelled in the history of Georgia. 
Then too, among his associates were; Jonas Fauche, Thomas 
Stocks, Thomas W. Grimes, Jesse Mercer, Dr. Francis Cum¬ 
mings, Dr. Francis Goulding, Dr. I. S. K. Axon, the Beemans, 
the Weavers, Bishop George F. Pierce and James O. And¬ 
rew, the Cunninghams, Mark A. Cooper, Mirabeau B. Lamar 
and countless other men who graced society and wrote chapters 
in Georgia’s history that future generations will not be ashamed 
to admit were Georgians. 

Another thing that has made Love’s Spring so long re¬ 
membered, was the duel fought there between Jonas Fauche 
and his unremembered opponent. The duel was an out-growth 
of the Yazoo Fraud; and while Fauche killed his opponent, he 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


353 


himself was wounded in the arm. It was fought according to 
the code “el-duelo,” and Dr. James F. Foster was the attending 
physician. He did his best to save the dying duelist, and dress¬ 
ed the arm of Major Jonas Fauche who had posted a runner 
to watch the duel and inform his wife as to the outcome. The 
story of the duel was told by Dr. Foster and other eye witness¬ 
es, and has been handed down by word-of-mouth, but no written 
or printed record is known to exist. 

When “Booze” was cheap 

In the month of May 1858, it became necessary for a cer¬ 
tain wholesale house to sue certain Greene County merchants 
for an unpaid account; and in order to file suit, the account had 
to be itemized and become a part of the Court record. The 
outstanding items of this account consisted of Ten (10) barrels 
of whiskey containing 40 or more gallons each; and the price 
ranged from fifty to eightly-five cents per gallon. One basket 
of Champagne $12.00 was sandwiched between 50 lbs. of candy 
and a box of raisins. This was in December, and was evidently 
intended for the Christmas trade. 

This firm operated two “Dogeries” in different parts 
of the county under somewhat different names; but both hand¬ 
led “Firewater” along with “Moe” Snuff and Aquilla cigars; 
the cigars cost $5.00 per thousand. “Moe” snuff was the 
kind the men used to “sniff-up their noses;” and, from the 
quantity of Lemor Syrup that appeared on the bill, I would 
judge that many of their customers did not take “them” 
straight, I mean their liquor. 

Who is so unwise as to want to see a “Grog-Shop” at 
every cross-road as it was in 1858? Yet, we have men in our 
legislative halls that would vote for that very thing. (1941) 

GREENSBORO AS I KNEW IT. 

Back in the pre-automobile, days Greensboro had as many 
fillings-stations as it has now. But they were altogether differ¬ 
ent as to the fluids they handled. Now when you drive up, 
ask for ethyl or plain, but back in those days you would ask 


354 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


for corn, rye, bourbon, gin or plain beer. And the question of 
how many miles to the gallon, was never asked. 

The “tanks” varied in those days just as they do now, but 
milage did not count for much. The thing that counted then 
was, how long would a “filling” stimulate? 

Back in those days most of the stores had wooden sheds 
in front to protect customers from the sun and rain. While the 
“filling-stations” went the other business houses one-better, by 
having a wooden bench both against the front of the building, 
and along the outer edge of the side-walk. These benches were 
usually adorned (?) with those who had been “filled”, and 
who were awaiting an invitation from some belated friends to 
“take-another”. 

These side-walk decorations of “full, half-full”, and near 
emptys, constituted a menace to ladies and girls who had to 
come to town to do their shopping, as each business-block had its 
“filling-station”. And in order to eliminate the necessity of the 
lady-customers having to pass through these lanes of thirsty 
souls, the merchants arragned a zig-zag course by placing boards, 
crossings the muddy streets so as to dodge these places. 

Back in those days, Greensboro had a peculiar way of 
celebrating Easter. The day following Easter was called Easter- 
Monday, which was always a holiday. All business houses clos¬ 
ed and the day was devoted to picnics, hunting-parties etc. Flat- 
rock and Bowden’s pond were the favorite picnic grounds. Car¬ 
riages, buggies and two-horse wagons were the means of trans¬ 
portation. And fortunate was the young man who could get the 
only new side-bar buggy the livery-stable afforded, to carry his 
girl to Flat-rock. 

Of course some enterprising fellow would have a lemonade 
stand at the picnic grounds and serve red-lemonade, if he could 
get ice and lemons. If lemons were scarce, he would use the 
slices over and over, and produce the acid taste by adding tar¬ 
taric acid to the water and sugar. In this way every body was 
served, and every body was happy. 

Ice was an item in those days and cost a dollar per hun¬ 
dred pounds in Atlanta with express charges added. The story 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


355 


is told on one well known vendor who packed experience in 
keeping ice; that on one occasion an early visitor to the picnic- 
grounds at Bowden’s pond, found a rope tied to a tree and the 
other end was in the pond. The early visitor started to pull the 
rope to see what was on the other end, and the vendor called 
to him to let that rope alone, and said “I tied my ice to the 
other end of that rope and threw it in the pond to keep cool, 

I was afraid it would melt if I kept it out on the ground.” 

On one of these Easter-Monday occasions, there was a 
crowd sitting in front of one of the “filling stations” planning 
where they would go, and what they would do. The benches were 
full, and about that time a wagon load of men drove up to slake 
their thirst, and as they went into the “filling-station”, one of 
them leaned his gun against the wagon. This gun was an old 
muzzle-loader, flare-barrel duck-gun, and designed to scatter 
shot over a large area, he driver left the mules standing un¬ 
hitched while he went in to get filled up. And in some way the 
gun was knocked down and both barrels were discharged at an 
angle that side-swiped the bench-sitters, he result was that 
everybody got shot from head to foot, and all of the doctors 
were kept busy picking shot out of the victims. Hudnall Weaver 
says one of the fellows who was shot came here to spend Easter 
with his sweet-heart, and that after he was shot, he got some 
friends to go around and tell her that he had been called home 
hurriedly and did not have time to come by and tell her good-bye. 
He says the fellow never came to Greensboro again, and that he 
saw him years afterwards in Chattanooga, and he told him that 
he had never forgotten Greensboro, or gotten rid of all the shot. 

The Easter-Monday habit became a nuisance to both busi¬ 
ness men and farmers. Laborers even went so far as to stipu¬ 
late in their contracts that they were to have Easter-Monday, 
and if the employer balked, they would not sign up. And the only 
way that it was ever broken up was through the co-operation 
of the owners of the picnic grounds, who refused to let their 
premises be used on that day, and in this way, Easter-Monday 
became a tradition. 


356 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The Herald-Journal 

In 1886 The Herald-Journal was owned and edited by 
Prof. W. E. Reynolds, and dedicated to “The cause of Truth 
and Justice and the Interests of the People”. 

Among the news items in the issue of October 22, 1886 
was the loss of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howell T. Evans 
by fire. And a timely caution about safeguarding the premises 
against fire. 

Greensboro had a number of brick stores at that time, but 
there were many wooden buildings sandwiched between them, 
which constituted a very dangerous fire hazard. 

Stores and business houses 

The following merchants did business in Greensboro: 

Copelan, Seals & Arnold (E. A. Copelan, A. S. Seals, and 
J. E. Armor) Department store. This was one of the largest, if 
not the largest Department store in Georgia at that time. And 
they handled everything that could be crowded into a store, 
and did an enormous business. 

W. A. Kimbrough & Co., M. J. Rossman, J. E. Torbert, 
Jones-Greene & Company, Mrs. R. W. Griffin, (druggist) J. 
W. Johnson, V. S. & G. A. Hall, J. M. Story, Lowe & Co., C. C. 
Vincent, and several other small merchants that are not clearly 
recalled. 

The practicing physicians were: Dr. J. E. Walker, Dr. 
W. L. Bethea, Dr. J. C. Asbury, Dr. J. H. Gheesling. (Dr. 
W. E. Adams moved to Greensboro later) 

The Lawyers were: Capt. W. H. Branch, H. T. Lewis, H. 
G. Lewis, James L. Brown and James B. Park. Judge W. M. 
Weaver was Judge of the County Court, and Judge Thomas 
W. Lawson was Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit, and Col. 
John C. Hart was Solicitor General. (He afterwards became 
Judge, as did Col. H. G. Lewis) 

There were five churches in Greensboro in 1886. Baptist, 
Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Catholic. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


357 


There were no public schools in Greensboro at that time. 
There were however, several private schools. The only school 
that was regarded as the town school was located next door 
to where Mr. Frank Mullins now lives, and Prof. W. E. Rey¬ 
nolds was the Principal. And “they say” he knew both how to 
teach and “apply the rod”. Prof. Reynolds later became the 
head of the Military school for boys at Milledgeville, Ga. 

Greensboro collected no advalorum taxes in those days, 
and the town was run on money paid into the treasury by those 
who were licensed to sell liquors and beer. The Georgia laws at 
that time made it optional with incorporated towns to license, 
or to refuse to license the sale of liquors. And Greensboro was 
the last town in the County to extend this privilege, which prac¬ 
tice was discontinued about 1895. 

Up to this time Greensboro had no civic improvements, 
except a horse-rack, mulberry tree and public well. The streets 
were almost impassible in wet weather, and there were a few 
plank street-crossings. The side-walks were paved with brick in 
front of a few stores, and board-walks in front of a few others. 
There were a few kerosene oil street lamps in the business sec¬ 
tion, but they were never lighted on nights that the moon was 
supposed to shine. And the so-called light nights were supposed 
to save money for the town, therefore, the lamp-lighter never 
filled, or lighted the street lamps no matter how dark and 
rainy it was. Whatever oil was left in the lamps when the 
street lighting period ended each month was appropriated by 
those who had rather steal oil than buy it. 

The horse-rack was located under the mulberry tree. And 
flies were plentiful. The public well was located in front of 
Jones-Greene & Company’s store and was the drinking place 
for all except those who preferred something stronger. There 
were no soda-founts in Greensboro in those days. The public 
well was the pride of the town, and was supposed to heal all 
manner of ills. No one claimed radio-activity for the water, 
because Madam Curie had not discovered radium up to that 
time. The liquor men claimed that it was very fine for diluting 
proof spirits, and very beneficial to those who were inclined to 
imbibe too freely. 


358 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The writer saw a physiological effect that had not hith- 
er-to been produced by the healing waters of this well. And 
the demonstration occurred in this way: Mr. E. Du Bose 
Jones, in front of whose store this well was situated, was quite 
corpulent and was very fond of going to his store early each 
morning, and the first thing upon arrival at the well was to 
drink as much water as he could hold. And just before going 
home to breakfast, he would fill up again. Just as he was re¬ 
turning to the store after breakfast one morning, and after 
he had had his double dose to start the day with; he discov¬ 
ered quite a crowd around the well, and just as he reached 
the edge of the crowd, he saw the old darkey who cleaned 
up the streets pull a large white object out of the well. Upon 
close observation he discovered that it was a nice large dog 
that had been in the well long enough for the hair to slip, and 
the skin to become bleached by the healing elements in the 
water. Ipecac, or no other emetic ever known ever acted more 
quickly than the sight of that dead dog did on Mr. Jones. I 
was never particularly fond of the water before that, and 
I am sure that I never tasted it afterwards, and I know 
that Mr. Jones always looked the other way as he passed the 
well in after years. 

The following “ad” appeared in the Herald-Journal under 
date of October 22, 1886: Pembertons’ French Wine of Coca. 
The world’s great nerve tonic. The conqueror of disease, pro¬ 
motes health and longevity, cures and prevents Neuralgia, Ner¬ 
vousness, Wakefulness, Hysterics, Hypocondria, loss of Appe¬ 
tite, Dyspepsia, Blues, Constipation, Liver Complaint, Kidney 
Disease, Mental and Depression, General Nervous Debility, 
Muscular Relaxation. It gives power to the brain and strength 
to the entire nervous system, firmness and elasticity to the 
mucles and enriches the blood. Exhilarates the mind and body, 
prolongs life, brings joy and health to the afflicted with mental 
and physical exhaustion. 

The writer knew Dr. Pemberton personally. He was a 
high toned, ethical man of his day, and no doubt believed all 
that he claimed for his medicine. Cocaine was the “balm” that 
caused those who took his medicine to believe that they felt 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


359 


better after taking a “swig” of his concoction. Dr. Pemberton 
did not put cocaine in his “elixir of life”, as that worse than all 
other drugs, was not in use, or even known in his day. It was 
the active principle in the deadly coca leaf that he used in com¬ 
pounding his “cure-all”, and he passed away long before its’ 
demoralizing, deadly effect was discovered. 

This advertisement is unrelated to the subject of this series 
of articles. But the writer came across it in looking through 
some old papers, and could not resist the temptation to warn 
all who read this article, to beware of the things that cause 
pleasure for the moment, but bring desolation, despair and 
death, to all those who fall victims to vicious habits either 
through ignorance on their part, or a desire to “boost” their 
feelings for the moment. 


1870’s 

In 1873, THE GREENSBORO’ HERALD was owned 
by James W. Wingfield, and edited by W. W. Thurmond. It’s 
advertisements reveal the names of the business houses, law¬ 
yers, doctors, carriage makers and other firm that did business 
in the county. And, with few exceptions, they have all passed 
into the great-beyond. 

The lawyers were: M. W. Lewis & Son; Phillip B. Rob¬ 
inson, R. R. Thurmond, E. C. Kinnebrew, Wm. H. Branch, 
W. W. Lumpkin, Union Point; James L. Brown. 

The physicians were: Dr. John E. Walker, Dr. W. H. 
Cunningham. If there were other physicians at that time, they 
did not advertise. Dr. Wm. Morgan seems to have been the 
only dentist; and M. Markwalter the only Jeweler; L. W. 
Grant manufactured carriages at White Plains; and H. C. 
Sitton manufactured carriages, buggies, rockaways and wag¬ 
ons, in Greensboro. 

The merchants were: G. A. Davis & Son, James W. Win¬ 
field, W. C. Cartwright, McCall, Copelan & Co., K. C. Wil¬ 
liams, J. M. Storey & Co., Hightower & Co., Torbert & Bro., 
Dr. Wm. L. M. Harris was urging his patients to pay up; and 
James L. Brown was advertising for hides for his Tannery. J 


360 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


P. Harris was advertising a “Mill Dress,” that he had just patent¬ 
ed, and telling how his invention would make better cornmeal. 
The paper had evidently been “jacked up” on account of the 
lack of local news, as we find the following. “Thank you friend,” 
“Atlanta Herald,” we are again at our post and will try to give 
you a few locals this week, beginning with the rabbit hunt.” 
The only local news item in the paper of December 11, 1874 
was, “Married, on Thursday morning last, 4th inst., by Rev. 
C. H. Strickland, Dr. T. N. Poullain to Miss Mildred P. San¬ 
ford, all of this county.” 

The Annual meeting of the Greene County Agricultural 
and Mechanical Association was held at the Court House on 
Tuesday, Dec. 5th, 1873, and the following officers elected: 
Captain D. B. Willis was unanimously elected President; Col. 
J. N. Armor, 1st Vice President; R. G. Carlton, 2nd Vice Pres¬ 
ident; Capt. Smith, 3rd Vice President; W. H. Branch, Trea¬ 
surer, and J. Conklin Brown, Sec’y. 

GREENSBORO, GA. AS I KNEW IT IN THE 
1880’s TO 1940’s 

There are only a few people, now living, who remem¬ 
ber Greensboro as it was in the 1880’s; and the present gen¬ 
eration cannot appreciate the improvements that have taken 
place. Of the five or six hundred adults who were here when 
I came, less than fifty are now living; but many of the teen¬ 
agers have a faint recollection of the changes that have taken 
place throughout the almost sixty years of which I write. My 
first visit to Greensboro was in the mid-1880’s, I came as a 
salesman (drummer, back in those days) for the wholesale 
drug house of Lamar, Rankin & Lamar of Atlanta, Ga. The 
customers on whom I called were, Mrs. Rose Griffin whose 
drug store was where Moore’s Pharmacy is now, Dr. John 
E. Walker’s drug store, where Chandler’s drug store is, 
Davis Bros. & Seals, now known as the “Big Store,” Jones, 
Green & Co., where Bickers, Goodwin Company is, and 
several other smaller stores that handled patent medicines, 
paints, oil and other things that my house handled. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


361 


I spent the night at the Sly Hotel that was located where 
Bowen Thomas’ Service Station is and, for many years, 
was the home of Mr. & Mrs. V. S. Hall. It was mid-summer 
when I first came, the streets were dry and dusty, a number of 
the stores were unpainted wooden buildings with wooden awn¬ 
ings that extended across the side-walks with benches on the 
outer edges; the store windows were covered with wooden shut¬ 
ters and a few stores had brick pavements in front and some 
plank pavements. Watermelons were displayed in front of the 
stores and were offered for sale at five and ten cents each. In 
those days, the merchants were, Davis Bros. & Seals, Jones, 
Greene & Co., W. A. Kimbrough & Co., J. E. Tolbert, fancy 
groceries, Rossman & Gardner, E. A. Copelan, warehouse and 
farm supplies, V. S. & G. A. Hall, J. M. Story, Mrs. Rose 
Griffin’s drug store, Dr. J. E. Walker’s drug store and four 
or five bar rooms. There were three hotels, so called, and 
“drummers” just about supported them. The hotels were as 
follows: The Corrv Hotel, later known as the Richland, the 
Sly Hotel and the Doherty Hotel which stood on the lot oc¬ 
cupied by the Georgia Power Company and the new building 
now being erected for Maurice Goldstein. 

The county officers were, W. M. Weaver, Judge, Joel 
E. Thornton, Ordinary and Postmaster, Jesse P. Wilson, Clerk, 
Henry English, Sheriff. 

The city officials were, Judge James B. Park, Sr., Mayor, 
and John Henry Wood, J. M. Story and several other aider- 
men whose names I do not recall. John S. Hall was Marshall. 
No city tax was levied and the bar room licenses and fines 
from drunks ran the town. Many eye-sores dotted the town 
and the streets were knee deep in mud, when it rained. The 
business section was lighted with a few kerosene street lamps. 

Mr. Charles A. Davis, Sr. had retired from active busi¬ 
ness and his office was where Mr. William R. Jackson’s office 
is located. Mr. Davis was the monied man of the town and coun¬ 
ty. His tall, erect form clothed in a frock-tail black suit topped 
with a beaver hat, was a familiar figure and highly respected. Old 
men wore beards and young men wore mustaches, skin-tight 
trousers and derby hats. Clerks were required to wear their 


362 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


coats while in the stores and waiting on customers. Along the 
counters, in dry goods stores, were long rows of stools for 
ladies to sit while they examined the texture of cloth and made 
their purchases, they could sit on their stools and have all man¬ 
ner of merchandise brought to them for inspection. The most 
useful man, in the Davis store, was a colored man named John 
Clark. He filled orders and looked after the grocery depart¬ 
ment and knew the stock better than any clerk in the store. 
John Clark had the confidence and respect of all who knew 
him, other stores had similar characters, but none equaled John. 

The four churches, meaning white churches, Baptist, Epis¬ 
copalian, Methodist and Presbyterian, all had part-time pastors 
but services were held in one of them every Sunday and were 
well attended. There were no places of amusement but most of 
the young people belonged to one or more social clubs that 
met once each week. Homes were thrown open to these social 
gatherings and they were greatly enjoyed. John Parkie Dawson 
and Ben Robinson prepared the programs and assigned who was 
to accompany such and such young lady. Under this plan no 
young lady was left out. How did we go to these parties? We 
“hot-footed-it” . . There were no automobiles and few buggies 
and carriages. Much courting was done on these long walks. As 
a matter of fact, I did most of my courting while going to and 
coming from these weekly social gatherings. 

The one and only amusement hall was up stairs over V. 
S. & G. A. Hall’s store, where the Bank of Greensboro stands. 
Occasionally, a small opera troupe would come to Greensboro, 
and almost every fall there would be a circus. These were rare 
occasions and were largely attended. 

The young people of today know nothing of the past. They 
view a beautiful little city with nicely painted homes, beautiful 
lawns, paved streets and sidewalks, handsome stores, beautiful 
churches, pictures shows, electric lights, telephones, radios, 
banks filled with money, handsome brick school houses and 
school buses bringing children from far and near, free school 
lunches, free books and free tuition. The streets are lined with 
shiny automobiles and the highways are paved and thousands of 
people pass over them every hour in the day and night. Many 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


363 


of these cars are driven by teen-agers who go at a break-neck 
speed. Accidents occur frequently, and thousands of lives are 
snuffed out every year. More people have money to throw 
away than ever before. 

The process of rejuvenation of Greensboro was slow; and 
the people of the town did not wake up to the fact that other 
towns were forging to the front and, unless something was done 
to improve the town it would join the rank of some of Georgia’s 
“Ghost Towns”. 

The Greensboro Herald-Journal did its part by reminding 
the people how backward we were, and what other towns were 
doing. Citizens meetings were held in the Courthouse, and our 
woeful plight was discussed. We had no industries to supply 
idle people with work; and were entirely dependent on the 
rapidly declining farming industry. Most of our citizens owned 
their homes and business houses but few had any money to 
speak of. Our neighboring town of Eatonton had just built 
and installed a waterworks plant and the town had taken on 
new life. 

Greensboro had elected a new, young progressive Mayor 
and Council which was composed of the following men: James 
B. Williams, Mayor, T. B. Rice, E. W. Copelan and J. E. 
Armor, Councilmen. They were chosen by a Citizens meeting 
that was held at the Courthouse, and were urged to do some¬ 
thing to revive Greensboro. Several destructive fires had oc¬ 
curred, so, one of the first subjects discussed by the new Council 
was a plan to secure a system of water works and sewers for our 
town. We conferred with the Mayor and Council of Eatonton 
and were invited to pay them a visit and inspect their water 
works. We accepted the invitation and went over in a body. 
We were delightfully entertained in the new Hotel and were 
shown around their beautiful little city. A demonstration was 
given to show us the value of an abundant supply of water and 
how easy it was to put out a fire. We discussed their plan, enter- 
viewed their engineer and the contractors who built their plant. 
We then had their engineer, Mr. E. H. Davis, come to Greens¬ 
boro, survey the town and make an estimate of a similar plant 
for Greensboro, which he did, and the cost was a little more 
than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00). 


364 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


We then called a citizens meeting, outlined the plan and 
asked them to express their views on the subject of building a 
system of waterworks for our town. While we were given much 
encouragement, quite a number of our older, well-to-do citizens 
opposed it on account of the cost, and a bond issue meant more 
taxes. However, the vast majority approved the plan and we 
called an election to vote on a bond issue. Then it was that 
the fire-works began! Many meetings were called and the op¬ 
position supplied able speakers against the plan. They pictured 
our homes being sold to meet the bond payments, many lively 
spats, and a few near-fights took place in the Courthouse; 
friends became bitter enemies and lines were clearly drawn 
between the “fors and againsts.” Election day came, every 
voter was corralled and almost every voter came to the polls. 
Water-works carried by a handsome margin, the bonds were 
validated and sold at a nice premium, the contract was let to 
Walton & Wagnon, and work began. The plant was complet¬ 
ed in the fall of 1898. If you will go the stand-pipe you will 
find an iron plate embedded in concrete at the base of the stand¬ 
pipe bearing the names of the Mayor and Aldermen together 
with the contractors and engineer. 

Other improvements followed the building of the water¬ 
works and Mary-Leila Cotton Mills, electric lights, then a 
Creamery, Cotton Oil Mill and other smaller industries were 
built. However, the period between 1900 and 1915 was not 
a “bed of roses,” periods of depression came, small investors 
were forced to dispose of their holdings and then came World 
War I. After the United States entered the War, business and 
prices began to pick up; cotton jumped to 45 cents per pound, 
and everything else advanced in proportion. Farmers went wild, 
land values jumped from $5.00 to $50.00 per acre and many 
farmers increased their land holdings, mortgaged their farms 
to buy more land, merchants got rich by marking up their goods 
as prices advanced, there was no shortage of consumer goods 
and the people went wild spending their money for things they 
did not need. 

This spending orgy lasted until 1920, in which year, the 
boll-weevil made its appearance, in Greene County; uo to that 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


365 


time, Greene’s normal cotton crop was from 18,000 to 25,000 
bales of cotton, but it dropped to around 300 bales the first 
year that the boll weevil came; the price had dropped from 
45 to 10 cents per pound. Result; many farmers went broke, 
lost their land, abandoned their farms and turned them over 
to tenants. The farmers could not pay the banks for money they 
had borrowed to buy land and operate their farms. The notes to 
borrow money to finance the farmers, the lender banks called 
their loans and many banks closed their doors never to open 
again. Tenants were unable to finance themselves, landlords 
were unable to supply them; migration followed and Greene 
County lost one-third of its population between the years 1920 
and 1930. Many farms were abandoned, houses burned or rot¬ 
ted down, erosion followed and many farms became almost 
worthless. 

Nor, was this condition confined to Greene County; the 
whole of the agricultural states had their own problems; the 
West suffered from drouth and dust, cattle had to be shipped 
to where they could find grass and other feed stuff; farms 
were abandoned, the U. S. established seed loans and other 
methods of assisting farmers, and chaos prevailed, in many 
sections. 

Then followed the bank moratorium throughout the nation, 
all banks were closed under government orders, and the out¬ 
look was dark. Franklin D. Roosevelt had just been inaugurated 
as president of the United States; the banks were allowed to 
open in a few days, that is, such banks as were considered fit 
to open and operate. F. D. R. called in College Professors, theo¬ 
rists and “Brain Trusters” to help work out a plan to save the 
nation; a multiplicity of bureaus and alphabetical codes came 
into being and we were plunged into the greatest spending spree 
that the world has ever known. Millions of men and women 
were given jobs, C. C. Camps were set up in all parts of the 
nation; F. S. A., W. P. A. and other work programs were 
set up, the “Nine old Men” were gradually weeded out and 
the “New Deal” got under way. 

Forty thousand acres of abandoned Greene County land 
was bought by the Government, a small army of men and worn- 


366 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


en were housed in an office in Greensboro. Houses and barns 
were built on the lands purchased by the Government and sold 
on long, easy terms to both white and black farmers. These 
farms were supplied with live stock and money to finance their 
farming operations. Some farmers made good but many others 
failed; the failures were rooted out and others put in their 
places; some few paid for their farms within a few years while 
others did not do quite so well. Some farmers “cussed” the 
Government while others thought well of the plan, time alone 
will prove whether or not it was the wise thing to do. 

In the midst of this readjustment we found ourselves in 
the midst of World War II. Our young men were called to 
arms, training camps were built throughout the nation; billions 
of dollars worth of bonds were issued to pay expenses and other 
billions were issued for “Lend-Lease”. Prices on all commodities 
advanced to fabulous prices, wages kept pace with high prices, 
dependents of soldiers were given liberal allotments, farm labor, 
cooks, washwomen and all classes of labor became scarce, and 
money flowed like water. Almost every item of food was ration¬ 
ed, shoes and many other items required stamps in order to buy 
them, and the supply did not equal the demand. “Black Mark¬ 
ets”, sprang up in all parts of the country and fleeced their 
customers. Many of us had to tighten our belts and wear patched 
clothes, but we won the war . 

Producers liked high prices so well that they hid their 
products after O. P. A. was removed, and many commodities 
reached a higher price level than they were during the war. 
Everybody, who had anything to sell, were, and are still on 
the “grab”, people have gone money-crazy. Greensboro, like 
the rest of the towns and cities, is suffering from house 
shortage and there is not a vacant house, of any kind, to be 
found. (1946) 

The abandoned, sub-marginal lands grew up in short-leaf 
pines, and saw mills have cut millions and millions of board feet 
of lumber. Our forefathers would not have used such lumber to 
build a hog pen, but it is being processed and shipped to all parts 
of the country. What about the price of this low grade lumber ? 
If you are able to buy it, you will have to pay from $60.00 to 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


367 


$100.00 per thousand board feet. This old field timber has been 
the salvation of Greene County. Some of these abandoned farms 
that were sold for three or four thousand dollars ten years ago, 
have netted their present owners fifty or more thousands of 
dollars, and the same is true all over the South. All wars have 
made millionaires and paupers; those who profit like an occas¬ 
ional war, it is the poor people who hate wars. 

Inflated prices does not mean that there is a scarcity of 
food and many other commodities; but just so long as the people 
are willing to plank down their money and pay ridiculous prices 
just so long will inflation continue. Periods of depression al¬ 
ways follow orgies of spending; and we might as well prepare 
ourselves for the worst panic this country has ever seen. When 
that little “nest-egg” the common people have been laying up 
has been exhausted in reckless spending, and the obligations they 
have assumed fall due, and salaries and wages drop to normal 
levels-which they undoubtedly will, we will wake up to the fact 
that we have done many unwise things and many of us will suf¬ 
fer. Those who bought high priced homes and land, on credit, 
will be unable to meet their payments, mortgage-foreclosures 
will follow, the property will be sold to the highest bidder and 
will not bring enough to satisfy the debt. The rich will grow 
richer by buying in mortgaged property for a song, and the poor 
will have to live in rented homes and struggle to feed and clothe 
their families. 

I realize this is a dismal picture; and the only way to pre¬ 
vent it is to immediately begin sane living and keep out of debt. 
Our older citizens have not forgotten what followed World 
War I; but the younger generations will not, in all probability, 
believe that the same thing may happen to them. 

The first part of this article told of Greensboro as it 
appeared in the mid-1880’s; but it presents an altogether dif¬ 
ferent appearance in 1946. Handsome stores and homes, paved 
streets and sidewalks, several manufacturing plants, two banks, 
paved highways to Atlanta and Augusta, many new homes being 
built and old ones remodeled; automobiles occupy every avail¬ 
able space in front of the stores and many parked in the residen¬ 
tial section; a handsome theater, splendid Public School Build- 


368 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ings, a beautiful, commodious City Auditorium, modern Voca¬ 
tional Building and Freezer-Locker and Cannery, handsome 
brick churches, a number of school buses that bring High School 
children from all parts of the county, a splendid Dial Telephone 
system, and last but not least, the Georgia Power Company sup¬ 
plies our little city with ample electric facilities at a very reason¬ 
able price. 

Almost every home has electric lights, electric refrigera¬ 
tors, cook stoves, fans, radios and many other conveniences that 
our fore-fathers never dreamed of. Yes, these improvements 
have come to us step-by-step until we have within our reach al¬ 
most every convenience that only large cities could afford only 
a few years ago. 

MURAL IN THE GREENSBORO, GA. POSTOFFICE 
(By T. B. Rice) 

The picture showing the mural in the Greensboro, Geor¬ 
gia Postoffice is explained as follows: 

When the new Greensboro Postoffice was being built, 
about the year 1838, T. B. Rice, the Greene County Historian, 
was asked to suggest a subject for the mural to be put in the 
Postoffice. I suggested the burning of Greensboro by the In¬ 
dians in the summer 1787; proof of the event was furnished 
and my subject was approved. An artist was sent from Danburg, 
Virginia to confer with me, he returned to Virginia, made a 
sketch and sent it to Washington for approval; the sketch was 
sent to me for my approval, which I could not give, but made 
several suggestions for changes to be made. The second sketch 
was allright except the artist had the soldiers dressed in blue 
yankee uniforms. I had him strip off the uniforms and dress 
them in leather breeches and coon skin caps. When this was 
done I approved the picture. 

The picture shows the new Postoffice, the mural, the pic¬ 
ture of Peter Williamson standing with a gun in his hand and 
a group of Indians standing between him and Sam Dale mounted 
on his horse. This represents Williamson’s return from fol¬ 
lowing the Indians, giving them battle and bringing eight pri- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


369 


soners back to Greensboro and turning them over to the autho¬ 
rities. Sam Dale was his guide. The Indians were located at 
Little Ocfuskee, now in Alabama, in what is now Chambers 
County. 

The picture at the bottom, left, is Robert M. William¬ 
son, (“Three-Legged-Willie”), son of the man who went af¬ 
ter the Indians. The other picture is that of the Greene County 
Historian, who is a g, grandson of the man who captured the 
Indians, and the grandson of “Three-Legged-Willie.” 

Sam Dale was a noted Indian fighter and the man who 
carried the message from the War Department to General 
Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans. The ori¬ 
ginal messenger reached Milledgeville frozen and had to be 
lifted from his horse; volunteers were called for and Sam Dale 
offered his services and made the trip, on the same horse, in 
record time . 

The Shoulderbone Treaty of 1786, is said to have arous¬ 
ed the Indians and they showed their disapproval by making 
a raid on Greensboro, burned the village and massacred a num¬ 
ber of citizens. Historian Pickett, one of Alabama’s early histor¬ 
ians and a friend of Peter Williamson, recorded this event as 
he got it from the lips of Peter Williamson. 

The Augusta Chronicle published the story of the burning 
of Greensboro and Williamson’s pursuit of the culprits. 

The general presentments of the Greene County Grand 
Jury shows where Jonas Fauche who was in charge of Military 
operation in Greene County, was indicted for riot, in that, he 
drove the guard from around the jail. The indictment was 
quashed at the next term of court. I interpret this to mean that, 
when the Indians were lodged in jail the authorities placed a 
guard around it to protect the prisoners; and that those citi¬ 
zens whose homes had been burned, and whose families had 
been murdered, went to the jail and demanded that the pri¬ 
soners be turned over to them. The Sheriff saw that trouble was 
brewing. Fauche and his men appeared at the jail and, fearing 
trouble, he drove the guard away and turned the Indians over 


370 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


to the tender mercies of those who had gathered for the pur¬ 
pose of dispatching the guilty Indians. 

No record of the trial of the Indians is recorded in the 
Court minutes. 

Greensboro, Georgia, November 6, 1945. 

GREENSBORO’S FIRST WATERWORKS 
AN ACT 

To amend an act, entitled, “An act for the better regula¬ 
tion of the town of Greensboro etc. etc.” 

Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That the commissioners of the 
town and corporation of Greensboro, for the time being, and their 
successors in office, shall have full poweir and authority to impose 
such tax and taxes on the inhabitants of said town and corporation 
as they deem necessary for the purpose of improving and keeping in 
good order the springs within the limits of said incorporation, com¬ 
monly called and known by the name of Rucker’s spring, Armor’s or 
Rock spring, and Park’s spring: Provided, that such tax shall not 
exceed the sum of one dollar on each and every person liable by law 
to pay a poll tax, or who shall be the head of a family without be¬ 
ing so liable, within the term of one year. 

Signed by Benjamin Whitaker, Speaker of House, 
and William Rabun, President of the Senate. 

Assented to, 16th December 1815. 

D. B. Mitchell, Governor. 


Who can identify these springs in 1934? 

It is highly probable that one of them is now being used in 
connection with our present water system, and is known as 
Love’s spring. The location of the other two springs mention¬ 
ed is somewhat doubtful; but the writer believes that one of 
them was near the old Baptist church site and near the Ice plant, 
and that the other is near the Mary-Leila Cotton Mills. 

The campaign that was put on by the Mayor and Aider- 
men of Greensboro just prior to the election held to authorize 
a bond issue for the purpose of providing money to build the 
water works, was fast and furious. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


371 


The opposition to the bond issue came almost entirely 
from the old people who had lived in Greensboro all of their 
lives. Many of them were men of influence, and their opposi¬ 
tion were hard to overcome. The business men and the younger 
men of the town were almost unanimous in wanting this public 
improvement, and many of them were related to those who op¬ 
posed it. Fortunately for the progressive element; there were 
several fires in town just a few days before the election. These 
fires emphasized the importance of fire protection. One of 
them occurred on the eve of the election, and bonds carried over¬ 
whelmingly. 

There public meetings that were held at the court house, 
proved a great benefit to a crop of young lawyers that came 
along about that time. It gave them an opportunity to practice 
speech making before large crowds of people. And there was 
enough “pep” in some of the speeches to put them on their 
metal. In fact-several fist-fights occurred, but nothing worse 
than a few punches and hair-pulling ever took place. 

Men were not cowards in those days. And did not go 
around with pistols in their pockets looking for somebody to 
shoot like they do now. When a man called another a liar, or 
other uncomplimentary things; they went for each other in 
the good old fashioned way with naked fists, and when the 
“scrap” was over, it was over. 

All of the wounds that were made during the bond elec¬ 
tion healed without leaving scars, and the friends who took op¬ 
posite sides were soon reunited. Other bond elections for Muni¬ 
cipal improvements followed a few years later with little op¬ 
position. The affairs of the town were honestly administered, 
and the people began to realize that in order to have the con¬ 
veniences that added so much to the pleasure of living, they 
must cooperate with their influence and their means. 

About the same time that the water works was built, the 
Southern Bell Telephone Company put an exchange in Greens¬ 
boro. The first and only page devoted to Greensboro sub¬ 
scribers is reproduced below: 


372 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company 
Greensboro, Ga. 

T. B. Rice, Manager R. L. West, Supt., Atlanta, Ga. 

Report Trouble to Greensboro No. 50. 

All subscribers’ stations are equipped with Long-Distance 
Metalic Circuits. 


December 1, 1902. 


50 

Central Office, Manager’s of¬ 

7—3 

McCommons, R. L., Resi¬ 


fice 


dence 

17—2 

Asbury, J. C. Dr. Residence 

1—3 

Moncrief, J. H., Residence 

18—3 

Bickers M. L. Dry goods 

13—2 

Orr, M. L., Grocer 

7—2 

Boswell & McCommons 

13—3 

Orr, M. L., Residence 


Gen. mdse. 

1—2 

Rice, T. B., Residence 

21 

Brooks, G. T. Grocer 

25 

Richland Hotel, Mrs. G. C. 

8—2 

Buchanan, S. T. Residence 


Arnold 

50 

Central office (Pay Station) 

4—2 

Rossman, M. J., Grocery 

10—2 

E. A. Copelan, Bank 

4—3 

Rossman, M. J., Residence 

10—3 

Copelan, E. A. Residence 

9—2 

Shipp, F. B., Herald-Journal 

17—3 

Evans, J. W., Residence 

9—3 

Shipp, F. B., Residence 

18—2 

Fister, Julia M. Miss, Re¬ 

19—2 

Southern Cotton Oil Co., 


sidence 


office 

11—2 

Georgia R. R. Co. Office 

11—2 

Southern Express Co., office 

5 

Gheesling, J. H. Dr., Resi¬ 

12—2 

Torbert, J. E., Grocer 


dence 

12—3 

Torbert, J. E., Residence 

11—3 

Hall, G. W., Residence 

22 

Vincent, L. A., Residence 

26 

Hall, Guy, Residence 

6 

Water Works, Pumping 

23—3 

Hixon, E. C., Residence 


Station 

2 

Jackson, W. R., Residence 

13—4 

Wheeler, R. P., Residence 

24 

Jones, M. K. Mrs., Residence 

3—5 

3—2 

Williams, J. B., Residence 
Williams & Boswell, Hdw. 

19—3 

King, C. M., Residence 


& Gen. Mdse. 

8—3 

Mary-Leila Mill, Office 

23—3 

Wright & Hixon, Stables 


The quickest way to get over ground is to stay at home 
and use the Telephone. 


Not a single individual or firm that was in business in 
Greensboro in 1901 is in business here now. Of all the indivi¬ 
duals listed; only J. W. Evans, S. T. Buchanan, Guy Hall, T. B. 
Rice, J. B. Williams are now living. The firm of Wright & 
Hixon was composed of M. C. Wright, E. C. Hixon both of 
whom are still living in Greensboro, along with T. B. Rice. 
(1941) 

In 1902 there were less than one million Telephones in 
the United States. Now there are practically twenty million. 
(1941) 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


373 


Comer Vincent says that he and T. B. Rice are largely re¬ 
sponsible for Greensboro’ water-works. He says his bar and 
Rice’s soda fount drew so heavily on the town well, that the 
water supply just had to be increased, and that on circus days 
when the elephant had to be watered, and red lemonade had to 
be made, there simply was not enough water to go around. He 
also says that Rice drew very heavily on the old well for Aqua 
Pura for prescription purposes. And he tells a tale about a pre¬ 
scription that got on Rice’s conscience. The story is as follows: 
He says that a man came into Rice’s drug store one day with 
a prescription that called for 20 grains of Permanganate of 
Potash and one quart of Aqua Pura, and that Rice filled the 
prescription and charged the customer one dollar for it. And 
that Rice sent his porter down to his (Vincent’s place to get 
an empty quart bottle to put it in and drew on the public well 
for the Aqua Pura, therefore, all that he actually furnished 
was the 20 grains of Permanganate of Potash, and that there 
are no fractions small enough to express the actual cost. 

Rice admits that the story is partly true, and that after the 
customer had brought the bottle back five times to be refilled, 
and paid five dollars for it; that his conscience got the better 
of him, and that after that, he filled the prescription free of 
charge as long as the customer lived. 

Well, it does not matter so much who is responsible for 
the splendid water works that furnishes the citizens of Greens¬ 
boro with an abundant supply of fine artesian water, and pro¬ 
tects them from fire hazard. And we will let the tablet at the 
base of the water-tower tell the story. 

The tablet reads: 

Built in 1889 By 

Lombard Iron Works, Augusta, Ga. 

Walton & Wagner Contractors, Rome, Ga. 

Mayor, J. B. Williams, Aldermen T. B. Rice, 

E. W. Copelan, J. E. Armor 
Engineer, E. H. Davis 


374 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Greensboro 1890 

In 1890 Greensboro had a population of 1,313, and Greene 
county had 17,051. Many of the men who fought in the Con¬ 
federate army were still active, and the county was in a prosper¬ 
ous condition. Practically every farmer owned his farm and 
lived on it. The exodus from the farm to town did not begin 
until late in the 1890’s and continued until a very large per 
cent of the once fertile lands became hills and gullies. The older 
people are practically all dead, and their children have been 
scattered to the four-winds. Some of them have become promin¬ 
ent and prosperous in Atlanta and other cities. Many of them 
have moved to other states and made good citizens, but very 
few have remained in the old homes. 

The rise and fall of the population of Greene county since 
the first census was taken by the Federal government in 1790 
as shown by the following table tells a pathetic story. And 
should cause us to reflect upon the causes and conditions that 
have prevented this historic old county from keeping pace with 
more prosperous sections of Georgia. 

Greene county has many natural advantages that should 
be capitalized. Her fertile land, native grasses never-failing 
streams, good water, unexcelled climate and other resources 
should make her one of the leading counties of the state, and 
some man or men with vision is going to reap a rich reward 
by buying up and rehabilitating the cheap lands that are now 
idle. 

The population of Greene county, Ga., and incorporated 
place therein, so far as shown by each of the Federal Censuses, 
from 1790 to 1930, both inclusive, as follows: 


Greene Greensboro Penfield Siloam U-Point W-Plains Woodville 


Census year. County. city town town town town town 

1930 12,616 2,124 184 369 1,627 405 332 

1920 18,972 2,128 315 243 1,126 479 458 

1910 18,512 2,120 475 . 1,363 407 

1900 16,542 1,511 375 . 290 

1890 17,051 1,313 . 510 

1880 17,547 1,621 . 576 459 

1870 12,454 913 . . 374 

1860 12,652 . . 
























HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


375 


1850 13,068 

1840 11,690 

1830 12,549 

1820 13,589 

1810 11,687 

1800 10,761 

1790 5,405 


No census is shown for Greensboro prior to 1870. The 
blanks for Union Point in 1890 and 1909 are not explained 
by the Census bureau, but the notation was made that it was 
incorporated in 1901, but the reason for showing a population 
of 576 in 1880 is not explained. 

The above tabulation was furnished and signed by W. M. 
Stewart, Director of Census, Washington, D. C. 


HOW GREENSBORO AND GREENE COUNTY 
APPEARED TO A TRAVELER IN 1839 

(By T. B. Rice) 

It is interesting to note how this part of Georgia appear¬ 
ed to an Englishman as he toured the “Slave States” one hun¬ 
dred years ago; and his experiences give an idea of the incon¬ 
veniences travelers had to endure-as well as the high cost. 

The Stagecoach route from Greensboro to Athens, ran 
pretty much along the same route that highway No. 15 follows, 
that is, as far as Mr. De Forest Buice’s Dairy Farm. Here, it 
turned left, and went to Daniel’s Ferry, from thence to Wat- 
kinsville leaving Wrayswood to the right. 

About halfway between Daniel’s Ferry and Watkinsville, 
stood the village of Salem at that time, larger than Watkinsville, 
but no longer in existence. 

“At six o’clock on the Torning of Friday, the 21st of June 
(1839) we left Augusta for Athens, in the northern part of 
the same State of Georgia, intending to go from thence through 
the mountains into North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, on 
to the mineral springs among the ranges of the Alleghenies, 
which are greatly resorted to by the opulent families of the 
Southern and Western States, during the hot summer months.” 












































376 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“Our route from Augusta to Greensboro, was by railroad, 
for a distance of eighty-four miles, and being through an al¬ 
most continuous forest of pines, it offered nothing new to our 
observation. The rate of speed was about fifteen miles an hour 
while in motion, or twelve miles including stoppages, as we 
were seven hours going the eighty-four miles, stopping for break¬ 
fast, and several times to replenish fire-wood and water during 
the way; and the rate of charge was five cents a mile. 

“At Greensboro, which is an old, though very small place, 
not containing more than fifty houses, we dined at one o’clock, 
and here the road terminating for the present—though it is in¬ 
tended to carry it all the way to Athens—there were stage¬ 
coaches in waiting to convey passengers from the north, west, 
and south, to their respective destinations. Among the buildings 
pointed out to us at Greensboro by a gentleman of our party 
who was born there, and was now nearly sixty years of age— 
which makes Greensboro a very old settlement for this part of 
America—was the Methodist church, a rude building of rough 
planks, suited to a sect, who have the undoubted precedency of 
all other denominations, in pioneering the way for the Gospel 
in the wilds and woods of this continent. The class of preachers 
whom they send forth to “cry in the wilderness,” are often as 
rough and rude as their churches, but not the less zealous or 
self-denying, because of their want of polish or refinement, 
though sometimes giving utterance to sentiments and expres¬ 
sions, which they would themselves find it perhaps difficult to 
explain. One of these pioneers of the forest was preaching in 
the Methodist church at a period when the country not far from 
this was possessed by the Cherokee Indians; and in the attempt 
made to eject them from their lands, they had to recourse to 
arms for resistance. The white settlers, accordingly, often felt 
the edge of the tomahaw r k and the scalping knife, as they con¬ 
tinue to do in Florida at the present moment. In addition to the 
usual means of defense adopted by the whites, prayers were put 
up in the different congregations for delivery from this scourge; 
and at the end of an appeal of great fervour to the Almighty 
for protection, the preacher in this church exclaimed, “Spare 
us, good Lord, and deliver us from this evil; but if it be thy will 
to scourge us with thine afflictions, and chasten us with thy 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


377 


wrath—if, in short, it be they pleasure to let us fall into the 
hands of savages, O let it be into thine, O Lord!” To which 
the congregation, of which our informant represented himself 
as being one, responded in the fervent manner which charact¬ 
erizes the devotion of the Methodists, ‘Amen, Lord, amen,’— 
their feelings being, no doubt, too adsorbed in the consideration 
of the perils that surrounded them, to admit of any rigid criti¬ 
cism of their pastor’s language or meaning.” 

“From Greensboro we proceeded in a four-horse stage¬ 
coach, well appointed, and with an excellent driver; and hav¬ 
ing only six passengers inside, we had abundant room. Our 
journey to Athens was forty miles, and the fare ten cents a mile, 
just double the rate by the railroad, while our speed on the 
average was five miles an hour. The road became hilly within 
a few miles after our leaving Greensboro, and all the way on¬ 
ward we appeared to be ascending. The soil changed from 
sandy to a red indurated clay, and we soon lost the pine forests, 
and came into woods of red and white oak, which furnished 
better shade, and afforded an agreeable relief to the eye.” 

“On our way, about twelve miles from Greensboro, we 
passed over the Oconee river, which descends from hence till it 
joins the Ocmulgee, below Macon, and these together form the 
Altamaha, discharging itself into the Atlantic at Darien, below 
Savannah. The river was very low, in consequence of the scanty 
supply of water from above, no rain having fallen in this quart¬ 
er since the month of March. The stream was here about fifty 
yards broad, and we crossed it in a flat ferryboat drawn by a 
chain. We learned that on the banks of the river, rattlesnakes 
abounded, and one of our fellow-passengers stated that he had 
seen one caught or killed near this stream, which measured up¬ 
wards of nine feet in length.” 

“We were joined here by a communicative and intelligent 
planter, just from his plantation, from whom we learned that 
the excessive drought had been already fatal to a large por¬ 
tion of the crop of cotton now in the ground. Indeed, this was 
sufficiently visible to the eye, many fields exhibiting stunted 
plants, their color being hardly distinguishable from the dust 
of the earth that covered them. Some crops of oats were in a 


378 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


similar condition; but many fields of wheat had been reaped, 
and the sheaves were now gathering in, the wheat harvest being 
generally over in the middle of June; and the maize or Indian 
corn was in a very flourishing condition. 'We learned from this 
gentleman that there had been lately introduced into this State, 
a new description of grain, called Baden corn, from its success¬ 
ful cultivator, a Mr. Baden, of Maryland, who had taken the 
pains to select the best ears of corn from his own fields, and 
plant them in the most favorable position; going from year to 
year in this manner, in the belief that he should thus greatly 
improve its quality, and increase its productiveness. For the 
first five years there was no perceptible difference; but in the 
sixth it became visibly improved; and this process being con¬ 
tinued for twenty-five years in succession, had produced a corn 
of such additional productiveness, that it now yields about 
250-fold, while the ordinary rate of increase in the common 
corn, is not more than 100-fold, or 120 in the most favorable 
years. The buckwheat is also cultivated here and yields two 
crops of grain in the year. It was stated, that in the cultivation 
of the white and the brown cotton, in parallel ridges, which is 
sometimes done, it will often happen that from the mingling 
of the blossom-flowers, or the fine powder blown from them, a 
sort of mulatto-cotton, or mixed kind, will be produced by the 
amalgamation; and the same thing has been observed of the 
red corn and the yellow, each of which will give, by mingling, 
a portion of its tinge of color to the other. Of the brown or 
nankeen cotton very little is exported, as it is wrought up into 
nankeen cloth here, and is largely consumed in the apparel of 
the country-people for summer wear; none of it, we were told, 
had ever been sent to England, as far at least as our informant 
knew. It is somewhat dearer than the white cotton, and makes 
the most durable cloth; but by repeated washing, the color gra¬ 
dually grows lighter and lighter, and if washed and bleached 
often, it will fade away entirely, and become quite white.” 

“About ten miles from the river Oconee, we came to a vil¬ 
lage called Salem, a very favorite name in the United States, 
of which there are not less than thirty-eight places so called in 
the different States of the Union. The oldest and largest of 
these is the Salem of Massachusetts, near Boston; but in addi- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


379 


tion to this there is one in New Hampshire, one in Vermont, 
one in Connecticut, one in North Carolina, one in Tennessee, 
one in Kentucky, one in Indiana, and one in Illinois; two in 
New Jersey, two in Georgia, three in New York, three in Vir¬ 
ginia, five in Pennsylvania, and fourteen in Ohio! Little did 
the ancient founders of the Salem of Melchizedek, on Mount 
Zion, in Judea, anticipate so extensive a multiplication of the 
name of their City of Peace, in a world to them entirely un¬ 
known !” 

“We had scarcely arrived at Salem before the sky began 
to be overcast, and in less than a quarter of an hour the heavens 
were of an inky blackness, threatening an immediate and violent 
storm. The driver persisted, against our wish, in going forward, 
instead of our taking shelter at Salem till the storm should 
be over, as it was likely to be of short duration; and we accord¬ 
ingly encountered it in all its force. The gusts of wind which 
first came, were so powerful as to prevent the horses advancing, 
and the dust and sand were blown up in such thick clouds, as 
to render it impossible to see the edges of the road from the 
center. We were obliged to close the curtains and windows of 
the coach, and remain in perfect darkness, while the horses 
stood still, with their heads lowered to the ground, and the 
driver with his back to the gale. This darkness was first 
penetrated by the most vivid lightning and peals of thunder, 
succeeded by torrents of rain, which almost deluged the road; 
and notwithstanding all our exertion to exclude the water from 
the coach, it penetrated at every crevice, and soon wetted it 
in every part. The storm did not last more than half an hour; 
yet such was its violence, that large trees were uprooted and 
thrown across the road, obliging us to turn in to the adjoining 
woods, and go round them; and in the hollows of the fields 
between the ridges of the cotton and corn plants, the water lay 
on the surface apparently five or six inches in depth, while in 
every declivity, torrents were formed, some of which were dif¬ 
ficult and even dangerous to traverse. 

“Eleven miles from Salem, we came to Watkinsville, a 
still smaller village, where we took tea, or supper, about eight 
o’clock: and though this was the longest day of the year, and 


380 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


the thermometer had been above 90° at noon, it was now so 
cold as to make a wood-fire agreeable. Continuing on from this 
place by a more steeply ascending road, for about eight miles 
further, we reached Athens soon after ten, and alighted at the 
Planters Hotel.” 


HOW GREENSBORO HELPED ATLANTA GET 
IN THE HUNDRED THOUSAND CLASS. 

Back in the gay nineties when Atlanta was striving to 
become a city of one hundred thousand, I was Mayor-Recorder 
of the little city of Greensboro. Police Court was always held 
on Monday morning; and bonds were taken for such little viola¬ 
tions of our city code as hot-suppers, rolling the bones, owl- 
head pistol and razor parties, plain drunks, shooting out what 
few kerosene street lights as our town boasted of, and such 
pranks as resulted from drinking 4.75 beer and “white mule.” 

When Police Court was called to order, the Recorder 
would call the names as they appeared on the docket. Bonds 
were forfeited in those cases where the culprit did not respond 
when the name was called; but the whereabouts of the accused 
was always asked, and the accusing officer would usually say— 
“gone to Atlanta”, and the change of residence was entered on 
the docket. And in this way, Greensboro contributed very 
largely to Atlanta’s growing population. 

The fugitives seemed to like Atlanta so well that few of 
them ever came back; and often resulted in the entire family 
following the wayward bone-roller and adopting the growing 
city as their permanent home. 

I have seen many darkies and a few whites too, shy off as 
I stepped from the “Old Reliable” Georgia Railroad train 
when it rolled under the old “Car Shed”. I often meet some of 
these “escapees” when I visit the city; and “howdy Dr. Rice” 
is the greeting that I have received from hundreds of those 
who went straight after they left dear old Greensboro. I never 
told on them and they seemed to appreciate it. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


381 


I do not mean to convey the idea that all of Greensboro’s 
contribution toward Atlanta’s development consisted of “es¬ 
capees , in fact, many of Atlanta’s finest citizens came from 
Greensboro or Greene County. If all the wealth that was 
created in Greene County and carried to Atlanta was still in 
Greene, Atlanta would be a good many millions poorer. This 
process of migration started back in the 1840’s and there has 
been almost a constant stream since. 

The Grants’ were among the first to leave Greene and go 
to Atlanta. They were builders, and had much to do with the 
building of the Georgia Railroad from Greensboro to Atlanta; 
and much more to do with the building of Atlanta. That sec¬ 
tion of Greene where the Grants’ went from was originally in 
Wilkes County, and appears on old maps of Greene County 
as Grantville. This was long before the present Grantville in 
Coweta County was thought of. The original Grantville was 
near what is now known as Daniel Springs; and that section 
was taken from Wilkes and added to Greene in 1802. The ter¬ 
ritory that Greene got from Wilkes at that time extended from 
Philomath (the original Woodstock) to the Warren County 
line, which at that time extended to near Crawfordville. In 
1825, Taliaferro County was formed out of parts of Greene, 
Warren, and Wilkes; and while Wilkes claims to have been 
the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton Stevens, there is at least 
some doubt about it, and it is very probable that Mr. Stevens 
was born in what was Greene at that time. The Corrys’ and the 
Griers’ certainly did live in Greene, and they were near relatives 
of Mr. Stevens’, all centered around old Bethany Presbyterian 
Church which is and has always been in Greene. 

Both the Griers and Greers were among the early settlers 
of Greene; and Robert Grier the almanacer, was married in 
Greene in 1805, and it is said that he went to school to old Dr. 
Moses Waddell when he had charge of the Old Union Acad¬ 
emy in Greensboro in 1787. 


Chapter XI 

WARS AND SOLDIERS, 1783 TO 1815 
SECTION I 

Unquestionably, 1793 and 1794 were the most trouble¬ 
some years that Greene County experienced. This was due to 
the fact that the Indians occupied the adjacent lands over the 
Oconee River and were for the most very unfriendly. At this 
time also Elijah Clark had started his Trans-Oconee Repub¬ 
lic. 

The Creek Indians remained on the south and west banks 
of the Oconee until the treaty signed at Fort Wilkinson in 
1802 became effective. This treaty was approved by President 
Thomas Jefferson on Jan. 11, 1803 and was signed by James 
Madison, who was Secretary of State. President Jefferson’s 
Proclamation setting forth the boundaries, terms and other con¬ 
siderations connected with this treaty was not issued and signed 
until June 2, 1806. Thus the Creek Indians were still in posses¬ 
sion of the lands lying between the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, 
although the act creating Baldwin and Wilkinson counties is 
dated Dec. 7, 1805. 

The proximity of the Indians and the Clarke men greatly 
retarded the development of the western portion of Greene 
County and the lives and property of the settlers were not 
safe until they were removed. 

The picture shows the type forts that our ancestors built 
to protect their families against Indian raids. In the early 
1790’s there were a number of such forts in Greene county. 
There were two in the town of Greensboro when the town was 
burned by the Indians in the summer of 1787. The following is 
a description of Fort Twiggs at the mouth of Shoulderbone 
Creek. This was copied from the original contract that is on 
file in the Department of Archives and History in Atlanta. 

Mouth of Shoulderbone, 

Greene County, Apl. 22, 1793. 

In due observance to General order issued by the Commander- 
in-chief of this State; here is to be a blockhouse erected with the most 


382 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


383 


possible speed. To the inhabitants adjacent in the presence of David 
Dickson, Esq., Augustus C. George Elholm, Adj. Gen. 

To carry the above order into execution the Adjutant General 
set up to the lowest bidder among the inhabitants; is to set up the 
directed building which by our mature consultation was found neces- 
ary to be the following dimensions, a blockhouse. This to be twenty 
feet in the clear and two storied. The lower ten feet high and the 
second six feet, over jetting eight inches on each side and covered 
with thick boards and furnished with a door five inches thick and 
the said blockhouse to be enclosed with a stockade square 21 yards 
by 21 yards and eleven feet above ground and sunk two feet, supplied 
with a gate and furnished with a covered bastion in the opposite 
corner from the blockhouse 15 feet in the clear and two story high, 
the first 10 and the second 6 feet, overjetting eight inches. 

Joel Reese was the lowest bidder at fifteen pounds, the equiva¬ 
lent of $75.00 

Signed—David Dickson, J. P. 

A number of these forts were built along the Oconee in 
1793, and Gen. Clark built a similar line of forts on the west 
side of the Appalachee and Oconee rivers. Major Jonas Fauche 
was in charge of Military operations in Greene County and he 
discovered what Elijah Clark was up to and notified Governor 
Matthews of these activities. (See page 292) 

An old map hand drawn by Jonas Fauche shows the fol¬ 
lowing line of forts along the Oconee. 

1. Fort Matthews, just below where Athens now stands. 

2. Fort Barnett, a private fort near Barnett Shoals. 

3. Fort Clark, at Scull Shoals. 

4. Fort Fuller, a private fort at the mouth of Fishing Creek. 

5. Fort Fitzpatrick, near Daniel’s Ferry. 

6. Fort David Gresham at Oakland. 

7. Fort Phillips, where the Appalachee and Oconee meet. 

8. Fort Andrew Armor, near Reids’ Ferry. 

9. Fort Arch Gresham, a few miles below Reids’ Ferry. 

10. Fort Fabious at the Cowford, near Arch Gresham’s fort. 

11. Fort Kimbrough, about 4 miles above mouth of Richland Creek. 

12. Fort Parker, in the fork between the Oconee and Richland Creek. 

13. Fort Foster, a private fort 7 miles below Fort Parker. 

14. Fort Twiggs, at the mouth of Shoulderbone Creek. 

15. Fort Jackson, 14 miles below Fort Twiggs. 

16. Fort Fidius was at Rock Landing, 6 miles below Milledgeville. 

State and Federal troops met at Mount Pelah, about where 
Gov. Mitchells’ home stood a few miles north of Milledge¬ 
ville, and from there they marched to Rock Landing and sent 


384 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


an ultimatum to Gen. Elijah Clark demanding his surrender. 
Gen. Clark was in a fort where Milledgeville now stands. He 
was offered immunity to trial if he would make a bloodless 
surrender, which at first he refused to do, but later changed 
his mind. Major Jones Fauche called on Gen. Clark, whom he 
knew personally and convinced him that his refusal would re¬ 
sult in the slaughter of him and all of his men, so Clark sur¬ 
rendered, and this was the end of the Trans-Oconee Republic. 

There were these private forts in Greene County also. 
Fort Harris, on the north fork of the Ogeechee river, Fort 
Holmes, Fort Comer in what is now Hancock county, Fort 
Republic, was about where Charlie Poulos farm now is, Fort 
Stocks, located where Thomas Stocks was born in Feb. 1, 1786, 
Fort Neil about a mile from White Plains. 

The private forts were built before or soon after Wash¬ 
ington county was created in 1784, two years before Greene 
was cut from Washington. The earliest settlements in the new 
county of Greene in 1786 were Bethany, White Plains, Scull 
Shoals, Liberty, (Crackers Neck) Greensboro, Penfield and 
Oakland. 

To protect the pioneers from the Indians, Captain Jonas 
Fauche and his dragoons were on constant alert. 


MUSTER ROLL OF DRAGOONS 

To protect the settlers against repeated incursions of the 
Indians there was organized a Militia Troop of Dragoons 
under the command of Captain Jonas Fauche. The roll is dated 
Feb. 25, 1794. The following members were enrolled: 


Fauche, Jonas, Capt. 
Browning, William 
Byron, Terrance 
Capps, John 
Curry, William 
Dale, Samuel 
Deveraux Samuel M. 
Farmer, Abner 
Finley, Robert 
Foster, Arthur 
George, William 


Gibson Humphry 
Grinatt, Robert 
Harris, Charles, Cpl. 

Harris, Samuel B. Trumpeter 

Harrison, John 

Heard, William, Farrier 

Heard, Joseph 

Jenkins, Jesse 

Jenkins, Little B. 

Lynch, Dennis 
McDonald, Josiah 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


385 


McQuire, James 
Moor, James 
Owen, George 
Phillips, George, Sgt. 
Patrick, Robert 
Pinkard, John 
Potts, Henry 
Reid, George 
Shaw, Joseph 
Scott, William 
Scott, Theodore 


Smith Peyton 
Standifer, Jesse 
Stocks, Isaac 
Wall, Micajah 
Watson, Douglas 
Watson, Robert 
Watts, Chas. 
Watts, Presley 
White, Joseph 
Young, John, Cpl. 


Most of these men were early settlers of Greene County 
and lived there for many years. They were colorful figures 
in their coonskin caps, homespun trousers, home-made boots 
hand-sewn deer jackets with their flint lock rifles, powder horns 
and crude knives. They carried for food, dried meat and stale 
bread, and a flask of whiskey was the only medicine they had. 
They carried a four day ration and furnished their own horse, 
and his food. These men were well seasoned for the hardships 
of the frontier life and many later fell before the tomahawk 
of the murderous savages when overwhelmed in numbers. To 
them the present civilization owes much for their unconquerable 
spirit, for a toughness unequalled in the present and a faith 
that bore them through trials and tribulations of the birth of a 
new nation. 


DRAGOONS 


State of Ga. Muster Roll of a Troop of Militia Dragoons 
called unde: command of Captain Jonas Fauche into actual 
service by order of His Excellency Gov. Matthews from Nov. 
1st. to Dec. 31, 1794 inclusive. 


Adams, Harmon H. 
Allen, Francis Farrier 
Allen, Samuel 
Armor, James 
Autry, Isaac 
Barber, Samuel 
Barber, Matthews 
Bailey, Lewis 
Black, William 
Black, John, Sgt. 
Bland, Elisha 
Breedlove, Thos. 
Breedlove, Nathan 
Breedlove, John 


Butler, Henry 
Bush, Daniel 
Brydges, John 
Brydges, Berry 
Byrdges, Banes 
Bowen, Owen J. 
Borland, Abraham, Cpl. 
Camron, Ambrose 
Carter, Cado 
Christian, William 
Clower, Wm. 

Crews, Isaac, Clp. 

Cobb, Jeffery 
Crowley, James 


386 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


d’Evereaux, Samuel, Sgt. 
d’Evereaux, Arch, Cpl. 
d’Evereaux, Jno. W., Lt. 
d’Evereaux, Samuel, Cpl. 
Dale, Samuel 
Dennard, Abner 
Easley, John 
Farmer, Abner, Sgt. 
Fergus, Linn 
Findley, Robert 
Fleming, Robert 
Foster, Athue, Cpl. 
Goldsby, Aron 
Greene, David 
Grimmett, Robert 
Gregory, John 
Harrison, John, Sgt. 
Harris, James 
Harris, William 
Harris, George 
Hammus, Willoughby 
Harvey, Mich 
Henderson, John 
Hooker, Stephen 
Hobbe, William 
Hopkins, Richard 
Hayne, Isaac 
Housley, John 
Irwin, Ben 
Jenkins, Jesse 
Jones, Dudley 
Johnson, Joseph 
Knox, James 
Kent, John 
Lamar, Jack, Cpl. 

Lane, John, Cpl. 

Lithgow, Robert 
Martin, Joseph 
Martin, Wylly 
Maggee, John 


Maddox, Benj. 
Malachi, Jones 
Maddox, Daniel 
McGuire, James 
Montgomery, Robert 
Moor, Samuel 
Moon, W. H. 

Moon, Robert 
Muckle, Charles 
Moor, James 
Morgan, Daniel 
Owen, George, Dr. 
Pass, Wm. Sgt. 
Patrick, David 
Patton, Samuel 
Penn, John 
Potts, Henry 
Ramsey, Wm. 

Reid, Alex 
Rogers, Josiah 
Rogers, Wylley 
Robinett, Jerre 
Robinett, John 
Rogers, Allen 
Scott, Wm. 

Scott, W., Cpl. 

Smith, Thomas 
Scurlock, Joshua 
Smith, John 
Summerland, Jacob 
Stewart, Wm. 
Stewart, Samuel 
Stewart, James 
Stocks. Isaac 
Standifer, Skelton 
Sinnuefield, Samuel 
Stephens, Wm. 
Thompson, Chas. 
Thompson, Robert 
Thompson, Samuel 


I certify that the above is a true state of the Troop under 
my command. Jonas Fauche, Captain Militia Dragoons. 


GREENE COUNTY Militia, 1783-1815 

This remarkable document gave the name, age, stature, 
complexion, color of eyes and hair of each man, but in order to 
conserve space only the names will be given. 


Captain, John G. Colbert 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


387 


1st. Lt., Samuel . 

2nd Lt. Alexander McAlphin 

3rd Lt. Abner Veazey 

Ensign, Anderson G. Middlebrooks 


Autrey, Jacob 
Ansley, Samuel 
Austin, John 
Burgess, Jonathan 
Brewer, David 
Barnett, John 
Bird, William 
Booles, Allen 
Burford, Thomas B. 
Brockman, Bledsoe 
Booles, Bevin 
Boon, Benjamin 
Burford, William 
Booles, Jackson 
Booles, William 
Beavers, Samuel 
Boys, Joseph 
Cubbehouse, Charles 
Colbert, John G. 
Crutchfield, Robert 
Cole, Duke 
Cisnea, Robert 
Daniel, James K. 
Davis, Drury 
Daniel, John K. 
Doughtie, William 
Davis, William 
Edmondson, Phillip 
Evans, Elijah 
Elliott, Alexander 
Evans, Absalom 
Freemon, Richard 
Fears, Zachariah 
Friday, Godfrey 
Forrester, Joel 
Greer, Aquilla 
Graftenreed, John D. 
Gutery, William 
Greer, Leonard 
Greer William 
Garrett, Richard 
Greer, Marbury 
Goodwin, Joseph 
Grimes, William G. 
Greene, Lemuel 
Gibbs, Thomas A. 
Harwell, William 
Hodges, John 
Head, Thomas 
Hammock, Travis 
Holt, Cadar 
Harris, Williamson 


Harwell, Thomas 
Hunt, George 
Irby, William 
Irby, Daniel 
Jackson, Abraham G. 
Jackson, Mark 
Jones, John P. 

Jarrell, James 
Lowery, James 
Leavins, Jesse 
Lewis, John 
Lackey, Thomas 
Lindsey, David 
May, William 
McElroy, Anderson 
McKinnee, Matthew 
Mayfield, John 
Middlebrook, Anderson 
McNealy, John 
McAlpin, Alexander 
Moore, William W. 
Martin, Joshua 
Meadows, Ransom 
Meadows, Daniel 
Mitchell, James 
Morris, Charles 
Nelms, Samuel 
O’Neal, Harrison 
Owen, George 
Pilot, George 
Pinkard, Thomas 
Phillips, Hardy 
Penington, Nathan 
Pierce, Lazarus 
Phillips, John 
Payn, Henry 
Pierce, Edmond 
Park, Richard 
Rollins, Davis 
Robinson, Alexander N, 
Reed, Daniel 
Redd, William 
Randle, Frederick 
Rowland, William 
Slaughter, Martin 
Sayers, David 
Shaw, George 
Swinney, William H. 
Stanley, Ezekiel 
Sayers, Jacob 
Swindal Henry 
Thrift, William 



388 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Took, Isham 
Thompson, Samuel 
Tuggle, Leonard 
Towns, James 
Towns, Willis 
Veazey, Abner 
Wilson, Jesse 
Webb, Levi 
Wilson, Silas 

MILITARY RECORDS— 


Waters, William 
Walden, Alexander 
Welbourn, Joseph 
Wilkerson, Dempsy 
Watts, Josiah 
Welbourn, Cordy T. 
Watts, Jubal E. 
Whitlock, Washington 


-1815 GREENE COUNTY 


INDIAN WAR OF 1836 

Muster Roll of Captain William Crosby Dawson (1798- 
1856) of the First Regiment of Militia commanded by Col. 
William Porter, ordered into service of the United States by 
Governor William Schley from the 6th day of June to the 12th 
of July 1836. Enrollment officer Major Kirby, Place of En¬ 
rollment, Columbus, Ga. 


Atkinson, William 

Floyd, John T. 

Allen, Bryan 

Furlow, Jas. T. 

Alfriend, Benj. 

Grimes, Thos. W., Surg. 

Ansley, John W. 

Greene, Augustin 

Asbury, Richard 

Greene, Benj. F. 

Armour, Wm. 

Hackett, Robert 

Atkins, Wm. 

Harris, Jesse 

Anderson, Ruben L. 

Harris, Simon 

Arnold, Cicero C. 

Harrison, Jas. J. 

Baldwin, Joseph 

Hill, Benj. 

Bass, Hartwell 

Hobbs, Robert, Jr. 

Branch, Alex. 

Houghton, Wm. 

Bunch, Wm. E. 

Hamilton, Chas. F. 

Butler, David E. 

Hurt, Joel 

Boykin, Sterling E. 

Jackson, John 

Carroll, A. J. 

Jackson, Job 

Carter, Elijah 

Jarrer, Wm. 

Cone, Wm. Jr. 

Jones, Hezikiah 

Crossley, Josiah 

Johnson, James T., 2nd Lt. 

Crutchfield, Geo. 

Littlejohn, Eli 

Curtwright, Samuel 

Malone, Doctor B. 

Cunningham, Jos. L. 

Marchman, Wm. 

Channell, Thos. 

Mathews, Vincent T. 

Daniel, Chas. W. 

Mays, Wm. 

Dawson, Geo. 

Miller, Thos, 

Dawson, Ruben J. 

Monfort, Wm. 

Davidson, Jas. M. 

Moncrief, Eli J. 

Dawson, Wm. C., Capt. 

McGuire, John 

Ely, H. Burnett 

Morrison, Isaac 

Finley, Leroy 

Martin, Benj. F. 

Farrar, Abel 

Morgan, Drury C. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


389 


Morgan, Nicholas 
Newby, Eaton J. 

Newsome, Joel 
Nelms, Jesse H. 

Park, Joseph 
Park, Thos. 

Parrott, James 
Price, John E. 

Ray, Wm. 

Riley, James 
Robinson, James 
Russell, James 
Ralls, James F. 

Sayers, Joshua J. 

Sanders, James 
Scogins, Wm. 

Snead, Wm. J. 

Stevens, John 
Simmons, Chas. J. 

Sanford, Henry, 1st Lt. 
Sanford, Joseph K., Ensign 


Strain, Wm. L. 
Stubblefield, G. G. 
Thornton, Jesse M. 
Thompson, Wm. P. 
Wellborn, Geo. 

White, James M. 
Willis, James 
Witcher, James 
Williams, Wash. 

Ward, John 
Wilson, James 
Wright, Geo. M. 
Wright, Thos. 
Woodham, Jarrett 
Woods, Milus C. 
Wingfield, Edward H. 
Wingfield, Junius A. 
Walker, Wm. R. 
Walton, John P. 
Watson, Wm. B. 
Wiley, James H. 


WARS AND SOLDIERS 
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775—1781 

On March 22, 1775 Edmund Burke said, “The temper and 
the character which prevail on our Colonies are, I am afraid 
unalterable by any human art . . . An Englishman is the un- 
fittest person on earth to argue another Englishman into slav¬ 
ery”. 

Almost two centuries ago the confused, and divided colo¬ 
nists entered a great struggle against Great Britian for their 
freedom. The civil war turned into something like a world war 
that extended from the West Indies to India and sometimes 
to England. The French came in to help the colonies at a cru¬ 
cial time. There were six bitterly fought years and somewhere 
along the way they began to see that they could not be just 
separate colonies, and so a nation was born. 

We visualize some of the things of that war; of Wash¬ 
ington crossing the Delaware on a cold winter night, or kneel¬ 
ing in prayer at Valley Forge, the men wearing old buckskin 
britches and coonskin caps with inadequate arms to fight with. 
It was a hard, weary, bloody war and as in all wars it dragged 
on and on, a struggle to the death and one that we came near 
losing. 


390 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


In December 1780, Nathaniel Greene replaced Gates as 
commander of the Southern army. Along with “The Swamp 
Fox,” (Francis Marion), Pickens and Sumter, there was the 
fighting at King’s Mountain, at Cowpens, at Augusta, at Sa¬ 
vannah and the tough colonists held their own, in spite of the 
fact that they were always short of money, men and supplies. 
The many Tories in Georgia were a thorn in the flesh, as they 
would help the enemy whom Greene was struggling to con¬ 
quer. Francis Marion was best at guerrilla warfare and used 
his men most effectively. Gen. Twiggs and Col. Elijah Clark 
fought in the Georgia battles and when at last Royal Power 
had ceased in Georgia, peace came to a devastated state. 

The important towns of Savannah, Augusta, Sunbury and 
Ebenezer were in ruins and agriculture at a standstill, schools 
and churches were closed, commerce suspended and on top of 
this, barbarous Indians were lurking on the frontiers waiting 
for a chance to attack. Georgia was at this period the most help¬ 
less of all the new States, for there were the Spaniards in the 
south to be dealt with. 

On the following pages you will read the names of Revo¬ 
lutionary soldiers who settled or drew land in Greene County 
and the widows who drew land. 

Quoting from Dr. Lucian Lamar Knight’s Georgia’s Land¬ 
marks Memorials and Legends, beginning with page 630 he 
says: 

“GREENE was created by Legislative Act, February 3, 
1786, from 'Washington County. Named for General Nathaniel 
Greene, of the Revolution. Next to the illustrious Command- 
er-in-Chief, General Greene was the foremost soldier by the 
first war for independence. He took command of the Southern 
Department in 1780 and was largely instrumental in expelling 
the British from Georgia soil. (See Mulberry Grove, page 
108; Greene Monument, page 103; The finding of Gen. 
Greene’s Body, Lost for 114 Years, Vol. 11). Greensboro, 
the county-seat, also named for Gen. Greene. When organized 
this county embraced parts of five others, Hancock, Oconee, 
Oglethorpe, Taliaferro and Clark.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


391 


“Opened to settlement at the close of the struggle for 
independence, the historic county of Greene became the abode 
of pioneers most of whom were veterans of the first war with 
England. These men inured to arms were well seasoned for 
the hardships of life on the frontier; but some of them es¬ 
caped the fire of the British only to fall before the tomahawk of 
the murderous savages. It is doubtful if there is a county in 
the State whose soil is more thickly sown with heroic dust: 
but most of the graves in which these heroes of seventy-six 
lie entombed, due largely to the unsettled conditions which 
prevailed for years on the border, are marked by no memorial 
headstones. But the spirit in which these men toiled, after con¬ 
verting their swords into plowshares and their spears into 
pruning hooks, is perpetuated in a line of worthy descendants; 
and to the one inquiring for the tomb of some ancestor who 
is buried an answer might be given in the epitaph of Sir Chris¬ 
topher Wren: “If you seek his monument look around you.” 

Ezekiel Evans Park, (1757-1826), a patriot of ’76, lived 
on a plantation near Greensboro. *He was a graduate of Wil¬ 
liam and Mary College and was a man of culture. Mr. Park 
witnessed service in a number of engagements and was wound¬ 
ed at the battle of Guildford Courthouse, in North Carolina. 

“Stephen Gatlin, a private, was pensioned by the Federal 
government in 1834, while a resident of Greene. Thomas 
Fambrough, at the age of 80, died in Greene. To quote an 
obituary notice: “There is no doubt that he was in nine as 
tough battles as were ever fought in the Revolution.” Captain 
Joel Parish was another old soldier. He died on his plantation 
at the age of 73, one of the last of the heroic remnant who 
fought under Washington. 

Alexander Gresham died in Greene, on February 23, 
1823, aged 70. He was an officer in the Revolution. At the 
outbreak of the war of 1812, though somewhat feeble, he was 
one of the first of the Silver Grays’ to volunteer. The following 
incident is preserved: “On the day of his death he was uncom¬ 
monly cheerful. While sitting at dinner, application was made 
to him for assistance by a distressed traveler, whose wagon 
was stalled near the house. The servants all being out of the 


392 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


way but one, he went himself to the scene of the accident; and 
after helping the stranger to get his conveyance up one hill 
he was preparing to ascend another, when he overtaxed his 
strength. With his hand upon the wheel, he was making an ef¬ 
fort to start the wagon, and while in this attitude he must 
have ruptured a bloodvessel, for he dropped to his knees and 
expired in about one minute. Major Davis Gresham was also 
a patriot of ’76.” 

Oliver Porter, a soldier of the Revolution, settled in 
Greene at the close of hostilities. He was present at the sur¬ 
render of Cornwallis. His son, Oliver S. Porter, Sr,, became 
a soldier of war of 1812. His grandson, Oliver S. Porter, Jr., 
was the founder of Porterdale, near Covington, Ga., at which 
place he built a number of cotton mille. (The Porters of Macon 
are descendants) 

“William Jackson, a soldier of the Revolution, lived and 
died in Greene. He was a native of England. Another hero 
of independence was John McGough, a veteran of Brandy¬ 
wine and Saratoga. Twice wounded, once with a sabre and 
once with a musket, he reached the age of 86 years. Mr. 
McGough was a native of the north of Ireland. His home was 
at White Plains. 

Michael Ely, who for years kept a public tavern in 
Greene, was a soldier of the Revolution. His son, John W. 
Ely, fought in the war of 1812. 

Arthur Foster and John Wilson were also patriots of 
the Continental army. 

Another veteran of the first war with England was 
Thomas Wright. His son, married Mary, a daughter of the 
famous John Stark, who distinguished himself in the struggle 
for independence, but unfortunately, as the result of a quarrel, 
killed a man and disappeared. What became of him no one 
ever knew. 

Mrs. Catherine Freeman, the widow of Colonel John 
Freeman, of the Revolution, was living in Penfield, in 1854, 
at the age of 86.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


393 


“Adam Livingston, a native of the north of Ireland, grand¬ 
father of L. F. Livingston, came to America in 1760. He 
bore arms in the struggle for independence, after which he 
removed first to Virginia and then to Georgia, settling in 
Greene County where his first wife was killed by the Indians 
while getting water at the spring. In 1805 the old veteran 
started to Kentucky, but died at Cumberland Gap while in 
route. Thereupon the family returned to Greene, where a 
plantation was purchased and a permanent home established. 

John Adams, a patriot of 76, settled in Greene, at the 
close of the Revolution, coming from Tar River, N. C. His 
sons, Robert and John, reared large families in this section. 
John Walker, a soldier under Washington, migrated from 
Virginia to Georgia early in 1800 and settled in Greene. His 
descendants are numerous, including the Walkers of Hancock. 
Putnam, and Walton.” 


REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS, OF GREENE COUNTY WHO 
DREW LAND IN THE LAND LOTTERY OF 1827 


Akins, James, Sr. 
Anderson, Wm., Sr. 
Astin, Robert 
Ballard, James 
Barnett, William 
Barnhart, George 
Boon, Jesse 
Branch, Wm. S. 
Brooks, Wm., Sr. 
Carroll, Douglas 
Copeland, Benjamin 
Correy, William 
Credilla, Wm., Sr. 
Cummins, F. 

Evans, William 
Foster, Arthur 
Gooch, Nathan 
Hackney, Robert 
Hall, John, Sr. 
Harralson, J. 

Harris, Matthew 
Hines, Nathaniel, Sr. 
Hogg, Samuel 


Holland, Thomas 
Hunt, George 
Jackson, Jeremiah 
Jackson, Moses 
Jenkins, James 
Jordan, Dempsey 
Jott, Daniel 
Knight, Richard 
Mitchell, George B. 
Nunnelly, Israel 
Paine, John 
Palmore, Elijah 
Paulin, Robert 
Price, Ephraim 
Ray, Andrew 
Riley, John 
Sanford, Jeremiah 
Smith, Reubin 
Shaw, John 
Thackston, James 
Wall, Myall 
Winslett, Samuel 


394 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WIDOWS OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS WHO DREW 
LAND IN THE LOTTERY OF 1827 


Alford, Mrs. Rebecca 
Anderson, Mrs. Ann 
Atkinson, Mrs. Martha 
Bethune, Mrs. Barbara 
Blanks, Mrs. Nancy- 
Bridges, Mrs. Susannah 
Christopher, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Copeland, Mrs. Gracy 
Davis, Mrs. Sarah 
Flud, Mrs. Jane 
Hall, Mrs. Mary 
Hammonds, Mrs. Susannah 


Hays, Mrs. Jane 
Irwing, Mrs. Mary 
Moore, Mrs. Nancy 
Parrish, Mrs. Rhoda 
Richards, Mrs. Lily 
Sesson f Mrs. Hannah 
Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Stewart, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Stringfellow, Mrs. Amy 
Wood, Mrs. Nancy 
Ward, Mrs. Winney 


This list of men were not designated, as Revolutionary soldiers but it is 
supposed they engaged in the Indian Wars. 


Allison, Robert 
Bails, Emmor 
Baker, Abner 
Baldwin, Charles 
Bruce, Aziel 
Bowden, Dangerfield 
Cessna, Samuel 
Clifton, Daniel 
Cosby, Dickenson D. 
Cunningham, John 
Curry, John S. 
Credille, Gray 


Grant, Thomas 
Greene, Samuel 
Harris, John N. 
Huff, George 
Johnson, Gilbert D. 
McMurray, James 
Mabry, H.P. 

Patillo, John 
Pope, William 
Underwood, Daniel 
Watson, Nehemiah 


REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS 

These Revolutionary Soldiers all of whom lived in Greene 

County and many of them died there. List prepared by Mrs. 

Henry Reid, D. A. R. Athens, Ga. (from Roster of Rev. 

Soldiers of Ga. by McCall) 

1. Allison, Henry, mar. Martha of Richmond Co. Ga. 10-10-1787 

2. Barnett, Abraham (Abram), b. 1754 Orange Co. N. C. died 1792 in 
Greene Co. Came to Greene from Mecklinberg Co., N. C. in 1780 a 
dau. Martha mar. Brownfield in 1774, who was b. 1757 and d. 1818. 

3. Atkinson, Nathan 

4. Barnett, Nathan, b. 1729 New Kent Co., Va. d. 1805 Greene Co. In Battle 
of Kettle Creek, mar. 1757 Lucy Webb in Va. b. 1731 came to Ga. in 
1768 settled on Little Kioka Creek, St. Paul’s Parish. 

5. Baxter, Andrew, Jr. b. Dec. 21, 1750, S. C. d. 1816 Wilkes Co. Ga. mar. 
1784 Elizabeth Harris, b. 1764, d. 1844. 

6. Blasingame, Phillip, b. S. C. d. in Greene Co. mar. Francis -. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


395 


7. Brooks, William, b. in Va. d. Greene Co., Ga. 1819 mar. Mary (Polly, in 
Va. Rev. Sol. in Va. line moved to Oglethorpe Co. Ga. received grant of 
land. 

8. Catchings, Joseph, b. Maryland 1762, d. Greene Co. 1806 Soldier in Ga. 
troops mar. Martha Townsend b. 1-28-1763 Ref. C. A. R. Natl. No. 
47956 & D. A. R. Nat. No. 328466 

9. Cummins, Rev. Francis D. D. died in Greene Co. 2-22-1832, 85 yrs. mar. 

Sarah. died June 10, 1855. 85 yrs. old. 

10. Dawson, George, grave located by D. A. R. 

11. Fauche, Jonas, grave located by D. A. R. 

12. Garrard, Jacob, grave located by D. A. R. 

13. Gresham Davis, grave located by D. A. R. 

14. Gresham, Archibald, grave located by D. A. R. 

15. Grier, Aquilla, b. 1719 d. 1790 Greene Co. (have will) Ref. D. A. R. 
141844 and 232545, on Sept. 13, 1777 took the oath of allegiance at the 
court house in Henry Co. Va. was too old to serve in the army. 

16. Grier, Robert, d. 1820, buried out from White Plains, Ga. on the Nelson 
Place now occupied by Jimmy Thompson. Grave yard in cotton patch, 
his marker is a large field rock with a hand chiseled R. Grier, 1820. 
John McGough buried in same family cemetery with marker, Rev. Sol. 

17. Harris, Walton, b. Feb. 6, 1739 Brunswick Co. Va. d. Sept. 2, 1809 
Greene Co. mar. Rebecca Lanier (related to Geo. Washington) mar. 
12-12-1760 Brunswick Co. Va. Rev. D. A. R. No. 90650. 

18. Harris, Charles, b. Mecklingburg, Co., N. C. d. 1791 Greene Co. mar. 
Elizabeth Thompson Baker, see McCalls 8 Roster p. 34. 

19. Heard, Thomas b. 1742 Va. d. 1808 Greene Co. Va. State Troops. Grave 
located by D. A. R. mar. in Va. Elizabeth Fitzpatrick dau. of Joseph 
Fitzpatrick Rev. Sol. of Va. b. 1720 d. in Greene Co. as well as his 
wife Martha Napier, age 106 yrs. mar. (2) Mary Veazey, d. of James 
Veazey, Rev. Sol. 

20. Heard, John, grave located by D. A. R. 

21. Heard, Thomas, Greene Co. Militia, 1785-1815. 

22. Jackson, William, native of England, d. in Greene Co. Ga. Landmarks 
and Memorials by Knight Book 1 p. 631. 

23. Lewis, Richard, b. Mecklingburg Co., Va. Nov. 1, 1747 d. Greene Co. 

1809 mar. Caroline Booker in Va. 1772 D. A. R. Nat. No. 36433. 

24. Livingston, Adam, b. in Ireland, served in Penn, moved to Va. then to 

Greene Co. where he was killed by Indians, had 13 children living in 

Greene Co. 

25. Love, David, Col. b. Anson Co. N. C. 1740 d. in Greene Co. Nov. 30, 
1798 mar. Oct. 22, 1772 to Jean (Jane) Blount, b. 1756 d. 1817. Grave 
located by D. A. R. marked. 

26. McGough b. in Ireland d. 1847 White Plains, mar. Margaret E. Mill 
buried at White Plains. 

27. Moore, James, b. Pa. d. 1815 Greene Co. mar. Jane Jackson dau. of 
Isaac Jackson, Rev. Sol. b. 1766, d. 1827 buried 4 1-2 mi. from White 
Plains, Ga. grave located by D. A. R. 

28. Park, James, grave located by D. A. R. Athens, Ga. 

29. Park, Ezekiel Evans, grave located by D. A. R. 

30. Perkins, Archibold, b. N. C. 1746, d. Greene Co. 1840, mar. Elizabeth 
Gibbs in Va. 1764, d. at 94 was in the battle of Guilford Court House. 
Drew land as Rev. Sol. Cherokee Land Lottery. 



396 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


31. Porter, Oliver, b. 1763 Prince Edward Co. Va. d. Greene Co. 1841, mar. 

Margaret Watson, 10-10-1783, she was b. 1765 d. 1844. D. A. R. No. 

275533. 

32. Wilson, d. in Greene after 1835, grave located by D. A. R. Ref. Va. in 
Rev. by McAllister. 

33. Weaver, Benjamin, b. Halifax, Co. N. C. d. May 1816 Greene Co. buried 

in Greensboro cemetery. Mar. 1st Miss Drury in Halifax, 2nd mar. Eliz¬ 

abeth Daniel, Halifax, N. C. 1797. Ref. Natl. No. 49384 D. A. R. 

34. Whatley, Samuel, grave located by D. A. R. 

Elijah Clark Chapter, D. A. R. Athens, Ga. 


REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DIED 
AND HAVE BEEN BURIED IN GREENE CO. GA. 

Oliver Porter, was at first buried three miles 
west of Penfield. but his remains and those of his 
family were reinterred in the Penfield Cemetery by 
James M. Porter in 1942. 

Jeremiah Sanford, buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Francis Cummins, buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Jonas Fauche, buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Benjamin Weaver, buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Ezekiel E. Park, buried in the Greensboro cemetery. 

Davis Gresham, buried in Oakland cemetery. 

Archibold Gresham, buried in Oakland cemetery. 

Samuel Whatley, Bethesda Baptist churchyard. 

James Park, buried near Park’s Ferry. 

Col. David Love, buried in Bethany churchyard. 

William Greer, buried in old Shiloh churchyard. 

Thomas Baldwin, buried in Bethany churchyard. 

Isaac Stocks, burial place not located. 

Jesse Boon, probably Bethesda, not marked. 

Robert Hackney, probably Bethesda cemetery. 

Benjamin Copland, probably Liberty Church. 

Jonathan Haralson, probably Shiloh churchyard. 

Matthew Harris, grave not located. 


N. Harris 
Thomas Holland 
George Hunt 
Jeremiah Jackson 

- Kimbrough 

James Jackson 
Ephriam Price 
James Lake 
Robert Pullin 
John Riley 
Reubin Smith 
Nathan Gooch 
James Thaxton 


Samuel Winslett 
James Akins 
Robert Austin 
William S. Branch 
William Brooks 
Douglas Carroll 
John Chandler 
Thomas Cox 
William Credelle 
Arthur Foster, (Greshamville, 
grave marked) 

James Armour 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


397 


Thomas Heard, grave marked about three miles 
west of Greensboro, just to the left of the road lead¬ 
ing to the Stock-Willis place. In all probability there 
are 100 Revolutionary soldiers buried here, that will 
never be located. Many of the> others who settled in 
Greene County migrated west as the Indians were 
pushed back. Many of them we know moved to these 
counties and others, Jones, Putnam, Morgan, Newton, 
Walton and Henry. This was between 1802 to 1821. 
In 1818 many of these soldiers went to Alabama. In 
the mid twenties when the Indians were pushed across 
the Chattahoochee River, the men of the Revolution 
moved into these counties; Coweta, Meriwether, 
Troup, Monroe, Talbot, Muscogee and other western 
counties. 

Many of the people at this period went to Texas 
to settle. Many court indictments read, “Gone to 
Texas”, when the case was called. Fugitives from jus¬ 
tice fled to the place of refuge in the wild and wooly 
days of Texas and escaped the gallows by a narrow 
margin. 


GREENE COUNTY HONORS THE MEMORY 
OF HER HEROES OF THE REVOLUTON. 

On Saturday July 4th, 1936, several members of the 
Nancy Hart Chapter, D.A.R. and a number of the descendents 
of Revolutionary soldiers, some from Atlanta, Milledgeville, 
Barnesville, Butler, and Beech Island, S. C., joined a pilgrimage 
which started in the Greensboro cemetery at 9:30 A.M., visited 
the graves of the following Revolutionary soldiers whose graves 
have recently been marked with Federal markers, and loving 
hands had placed wreaths of green and U. S. Flags before the 
pilgrimage started: Ezekiel Evans Park; Francis Cummins; 
Jonas Fauche, and Benjamin Weaver. A brief sketch of each 
was given by Mrs. Ferguson, Judge James B. Park, Mrs. Ella 
Harris Wimbish and her daughters, Mrs. Beach, and T. B. 
Rice, Historian for Greene County. Wreaths were also laid on 
the tombs of Isaac Stocks and his son Thomas Stocks, and Gen¬ 
eral Thomas Dawson. Neither Thomas Stocks nor Thomas 
Dawson were soldiers of the Revolution, but they vied with 
each other as to which was the first citizen of Greene County. 
Stocks was born in a fort near the Oconee River just three days 
before Greene County was created by Legislative Enactment on 
February 3, 1786, while Dawson was born after Greene County 
had been spoken into existence. 


398 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


From the Greensboro cemetery, the pilgrimage moved on 
to old Bethesda Church—formerly Whatley’s Mill Church— 
which was constituted in 1784, and at that time, was in Wilkes 
County. This church was organized by Samuel Whatley, the 
old Revolutionary soldier-preacher, for whom a Federal marker 
had recently been placed close to the wall, and between the two 
front entrances to this historic brick edifice. Major Samuel 
Whatley, who is connected with the Georgia Military College 
at Milledgeville, and who is a descendent of Samuel Whatley, 
read a paper recounting some of the activities of his distin¬ 
guished ancestor. Miss Victoria Whatley, County Demonstrator, 
Major Whatley’s young son Samuel, Frank Whatley Atkinson 
of Beech Island, S. C. and other Whatley descendents and rel¬ 
atives were present. From there we drove to Penfield, the 
“cradle” of Mercer University, where a brief history of the 
more than a Century old Christian College was outlined. From 
Penfield, we traveled over the road which was used by Major 
Oliver Porter, James K. Daniel, Cynthia Coffee Stocks, Gover¬ 
nor Peter Early and many other illustrious citizens as they car¬ 
ried their muskets and wended their way to old Shiloh Church 
to Saturday conference and Sunday preaching, and where arm¬ 
ed guards kept a close watch for lurking Indians while the 
minister preached and prayed within the hewn log “Meeting 
House.” This trail led to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Earnest 
Gresham, where we found the lawn covered with parked cars 
and a hundred or more of the descendants of Archibald and 
Davis Gresham who were brothers, and both Revolutionary sol¬ 
diers. Beneath the shade-trees, an old fashioned barbecue dinner 
awaited us; and what a dinner . . . Barbecue, Brunswick Stew, 
fried chicken, iced tea, lemonade, pies and cakes galore. After 
an appropriate “Grace” was said by Pastor Charles H. Hopp 
of the Greensboro Baptist Church, everybody found their places 
and how we did eat . . . 

There was no politics at this gathering although, the 
radio kept us posted as to what was going on. After a rousing 
vote of thanks to our host and hostess, we repaired to the 
Gresham family cemetery about one mile away, where we 
honored the memory of Archibald and Davis Gresham whose 
graves were marked by Federal markers, which were unveiled 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


399 


with appropriate ceremony, and coverings were removed by four 
little girls who were direct descendants of these Revolutionary 
Heroes. Here speeches were made by Mrs. Ella Harris Wim- 
bish of Atlanta. Mrs. Earnest Gresham, Mrs. J. L. Beeson, 
retiring Historian for the Nancy Hart Chapter, D. A. R., Judge 
James B. Park, T. B. Rice and others 

After the Revolutionary soldiers had been honored, a Con¬ 
federate marker was unveiled for Dr. Sterling Gresham whose 
grave was at the foot of his distinguished ancestor, Davis Gre¬ 
sham. Mrs. W. G. Little, Sr., the eighty-two year old daughter 
of Gresham was present, and as her mind traveled back over 
the years, her heart and eyes overflowed as she recalled the 
scenes of her childhood; and how grateful she felt over the de¬ 
ference paid her distinguished parents and grandparents. After 
a touching prayer by the Rev. E. E. Keene, Pastor of the Union 
Point Baptist Church, that touching song, “Tenting on the old 
Camp Ground,” was beautifully sung by Rev. Charles H. Kopp 
and Miss Mildred Hunter, of Greensboro. “Taps” were sound¬ 
ed by Mr. M. M. Morgan, and one of the most eventful 
celebrations ever held in Greene County came to a close. 

Section III 

WAR BETWEEN THE STATES 

After the Revolutionary war the nation had divided into 
two parts, the South once the most powerful and richest part 
of the country was being outvoted on matters vitally affecting 
its very life. The tariff was a thorn in the flesh of the South 
who depended on a free world market to sell her cotton and 
tobacco. The North was building up her industry and wanted 
protection against the factories of Europe. The division came, 
not over slavery, so much as over states rights. The South did 
not want to be overruled by the North whose needs were entire¬ 
ly different. 

When South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, 
Florida, Texas and Louisiana seceded they did not think that 
the North would take strong measures and that some compro¬ 
mise measure could be worked out. Lincoln said that the Federal 


400 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


government had no right to interfere with domestic arrange¬ 
ments of the states. Time went on and after Fort Sumpter was 
reinforced and the Confederates fired on it, it was clear that 
war would prevail and as leaders and the people became im¬ 
patient with compromising and political adjustment, the tragic 
toll of lives, fortunes and hardships went on for four long and 
bitter years. 

The South felt that, as the Declaration of Independence 
had justified the secession of 3,000,000 colonists in 1776, so 
could they justify the secession of 5,000,000 Southerners in 
1861. They felt that their rights had been invaded to the ex¬ 
treme limits within the Constitution, their feelings insulted, their 
interests and honor assailed by every form of invective. All the 
instincts of manhood impelled them to resort to a separation 
from the Union. 

The Confederate soldier fought on, even when the cries of 
distress came from his home, tales of want, insult and robbery. 
He fought the Yankees, who knew that their homes were safe 
and their wives and children sheltered. The Confederate soldier 
was purely patriotic, he fought for a principle and did not need 
driving nor urging but was eager and determined to fight. 

Greene Countys’ people have served in all wars from the 
Dragoons of the Indian days, the Revolution, the War of 1812, 
the Civil War, the Spanish-American War of 1898, World War 
I and II and the Korean War. 

In this Chapter I shall endeavor to bring as many of the 
lists of soldiers as possible from the records gathered by Dr. 
T. B. Rice. He mentions that in many instances he was unable 
to find complete lists of soldiers in the different wars, so any 
names omitted are unintentional. 

All wars are struggles and rugged and most of those fight¬ 
ing take a short range view of it at the time and do the best 
they can in the face of hardship and death, never thinking of 
the part they play in a great epic. Much has been written on all 
wars and most of all on the fratricidal struggle between the 
North and the South in the 1860’s. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


401 


A larger proportion of the population of the country was 
killed or died of diseases than in all of the wars put together. 

Every slave could have been purchased and freed for a 
fraction of the cost of the war to say nothing of the terrible 
period of reconstruction and its wanton waste of actual money. 

Large numbers of Greene County men went off to the War 
Between the States. These privates were for the most unpaid 
and were camped in desolate ravaged country forty miles from 
a village and the camp-fire songs which he made himself were 
his only entertainment. Many left Greene that had no slaves 
nor anyone else to provide food for their families. In a short 
time want was staring many families in the face. The wealthier 
families had slaves to work the fields and care for the livestock 
and fared better. The tithing tax was rigidly enforced and build¬ 
ings were converted into granaries for the Confederate army. 

The women of Greene threw all they had into the titanic 
struggle with untiring devotion, a determination to win and 
deeds of devotion inspired their husbands, fathers, sweethearts 
and relatives to fight. Hands that had never known labor en¬ 
gaged in patriotic work to equip the soldiers at the front. The 
management of the crops and slaves fell on the shoulders of the 
women, as well as rolling bandages, knitting socks and sending 
clothing to the men at the front. 

During the battle of Atlanta every building that could be 
obtained was turned into a hospital for the wounded, and the 
women, with their meager supplies, nursed them. 

As the war ended and the ragged, exhausted, defeated, 
starved men returned to the ashes and desolation and the land 
swept as by a cyclone of fire, their homeland, a melancholy and 
sadness prevailed in the South. Everything was lost save honor. 

The South was defeated and accepted that, and would have 
risen from the ashes, but the bitter days of reconstruction fell 
upon them. The whites were disfranchised, the slaves were free 
and untrained for managing their own affairs to say nothing of 
governing others. They fell into idleness and crime. The scala¬ 
wag and the carpet-bagger began exploiting the Negro vote. 
There were series of crimes, such as, rape, murder, arson, as- 


402 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


saults, robbery and all law and order were broken down. No 
man or woman felt safe. Some communities gathered their 
families together at night and posted sentries for protection. 
Women were insulted on the streets and life seemed unbearable. 
This state of affairs brought about the organization of the 
Ku Klux Klan, which was the only measure of protection to the 
whites until they disbanded in 1872, when some measure of law 
had been restored. 

Some of the Confederate songs which kept the soldiers, 
swinging along hundreds of miles on foot and dying and still 
laughing were: “Dixie”, “Yellow Rose of Texas”, “Bonnie Blue 
Flag”, “My Maryland”, “Somebody’s Darling”, “Lorena”, 
“Gen. Lee’s Grand March”. 

After 100 years what Southerner can hear the words, “Den 
I wish I was in de land ob cotton, Old times there are not for¬ 
gotten, Look away, Look away, Look away Dixie Land”, with¬ 
out wanting to give a rebel yell, bow their heads in memory of 
the immortal men in gray who gave their lives to a cause that 
had been lost and the flag that was its symbol? 

General Robert E. Lee, a man of gentle manners, heroic 
self-control, a dedication to duty, a leader and a man of chilvary, 
one in whom his men had absolute faith to the point of death, 
was not only the military leader of the South but the spiritual 
leader. Robert E. Lee had unfailing faith in God which defeat 
did not weaken. He was inspiring and poised and unfailing in 
the trust imposed on him by fellow citizens and at the end of 
the war he strove with all his might to heal the nation’s wounds. 

He had never wanted secession and did not believe in 
slavery yet when his home state of Virginia seceded he fought 
in it’s defense. He made his life a symbol of obedience to civil 
authority. He set an example for young Southerners by turning 
down more advantageous financial offers to take the presidency 
of a small discouraged college. He knew that youth was the 
future and sought to give it some of his own idealism and faith 
in the future. He was never allowed by the U. S. A. to give his 
allegiance to the country, although he advised his comrades to do 
so, and he requested Pres. Andrew Johnson to allow him to do 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


403 


so. He died, a man without an official country, but to all true 
Southerners he will live as a model of man at his best, the 
noblest of them all. Few people have come as close to perfection 
during their earthly sojourns as did Robert E. Lee. 

“Furl that Banner for ’tis weary, 

Round its staff, ’tis drooping dreary, 

Furl it, hide it, let it rest.” 

For there’s not a man to wave it. 

And there’s not a soul to save it. 

In the blood that heroes gave it, 

And its foes now scorn and brave it, 

Furl it, hide it, let it rest.” 


Enrollment of Present Militia Co., District No. 147-146 
19 th Senatorial District, Greene County, 1863 


Name 

Age 

Occupation 

Born 

Asbury, Redmon T. 

47 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Baughcom, W. 

51 

Mechanic 

S.C. 

Benjamin, C. 

59 

Shoemaker 

N.C. 

Boughman, P. 

21 

Spinner 

S.C. 

Boughman, A. 

17 

Spinner 

S.C. 

Bramberry, W. H. 

50 

Farmer 

S.C. 

B-gls, Alex. 

28 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Canupp, David R. 

52 

Shoemaker 

N.C. 

Chapman, Wm. 

46 

Weaver 

Ga. 

Canupp, J. 

24 

Fact. Op. 

Ga. 

Chapman, Miles 

24 

Spinner 

Ga. 

Chapman, Wm. M. 

41 

Weaver 

Ga. 

Campbell, John P. 

57 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Daniel, Oliver P. 

43 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Freeman, John C. 

48 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Finley, James F. 

55 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Fambro, Thos. M. 

55 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Hislap, D. R. 

34 

Carder 

Ky. 

Harper, G. 

21 

Carder 

Ga. 

Harris, P. 

17 

Fact. Op. 

Miss. 

Hayes, Edwin 

19 

Spinner 

Ga. 

Hayes, Benj. 

55 

Spinner 

Ga. 

Helgood. E. 

34 

Factory Hand 

Ga. 

Janes, Thos. P. 

42 

Physician 

Ga. 

Landrum, Thos. 

33 

Physician 

Ga. 

Mills, R. 

17 

Fact. Op. 

S.C. 

Maxey, Geo. W. 

17 

Farmer 

Ga. 

McWhorter, Fred 

41 

Farmer 

Ga. 

McGehee, J. 

29 

Physician 

Ga. 

Mullins, John 

51 

Farmer 

N.C. 


404 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Mullins, Chas. 

17 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Nims, H. 

28 

Carder 

Ga. 

Owens, Seaborn 

42 

Supt. Fac. 

Ga. 

Poullian, Thos. 

39 

Manuf. 

Ga. 

Parnell, Wm. 

19 

Spinner 

Ga. 

Porter, Walter A. 

50 

Farmer 

S.C. 

Pyron, C. C. 

16 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Ragg, Jas. H. 

29 

Bookkeeper 

Ga. 

Saxon, Hugh 

57 

Fac. Hand 

Ga. 

Saxon, L. W. 

17 

Fac. Hand 

Ga. 

Vaughn, Wm. 

47 

Farmer 

S.C. 

Watson, Jas. 

30 

Farmer 

Ga. 

Wheeler, Lawrence 

52 

Farmer 

Ga. 

West, Reuben 

58 

Farmer 

Ga. 


Confederate Soldiers, Company A, Greene Rifles 
Phillips Legion 


Sanford, D. B. Captain 
Daniel, O. P. Captain 
Robinson, P. B. Captain 
Fuller, F. C. Captain 
March, W. H. H. Captain 


Johnson, Henry C. 2nd Lt. 
Jernigan, J. R. Private 

Jackson . Private 

Jernigan, A. H. Private 


Alexander, J. D. Private 
Aikins, J. T. Private 
Andrews, J. D. Private 
Armor, J. N. Private 
Armor, W. R. Private 
Bagby, Chas. L., 2nd Lt. 

Bass, Wm. Private 
Bass, J. B. Private 
Barnett, R. P. Private 
Bickers, W. C. Private 
Billingslea, J. F. Private 
Brown, . Private 

Carlton, B. F., 3rd Sgt. 
Cunningham, Wm. H., 3rd Sgt. 
Champion, C. W. Private 
Champion, John D. 1st Sgt. 

Crabb, . Private 

Corry, John A. Private 
Corlew, M. V. Private 
Caldwell, C. J. Private 
Champion, H. W. Private 

Daniel, O. P. Capt. 

Davis, B. A. Private 
Elliott, Benj. Private 
Fleetwood, L. B. Private 
Florence, A. L. Private 

Hall, J. M. Private 
Houghton, J. Private 
Hightower, E. A. Private 
Hancock, A. C. 5th Lt. 
Houghton, T. Redmon, 1st Cpl. 
Hall, John S. 1st. Lt. 


Kirk, Wm. Private. 

Leverett, D. N. Private 
Lewis, Miles W. Private 
Lindsey, W. T. Private 

Mann, H. S. Private 
Mann, J. H. Private 
Minich, W. G. Private 
Markwalter, Wm. Private 
Markwalter, Martin, Private 

McGibony, W. R. Private 

Nickelson, Henry Clay, 4th Lt. 

Oliver, Milus A. Private 
O’Neal, Horace Private 
Overton, G. W. Private 

Parker, R. T. Private 

Parrott . Private 

Phelps, W. T. Private 
Poore, J. A. Private 
Perdue, M. L. Private 
Perdue, L. Crawford Private 
Purifoy, J. S. 2nd Lt. 

Reynolds, J. R. Private 
Richards, W. A. Private 
Robins, J. R. Private 
Robins, S. W. Private 
Robins, A. M. Private 

Sanford, T. J. Private 
Scott, J. Tom, 4th Lt. 






HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


405 


Wagnon, E. N. Private 
Williams, John, Private 
Willis, Eugenius L. Private 
Wright, J. O. Private 
Woodham, J. E. Private 
White, W. C. Private 


Wilson, J. R. Private 
Wheeler, A. L. Private 

Wright, . Private 

Williams, . Private 

Youngblood, R. J. Private 


Stephens Light Guards 
Company 1, 8 th Ga. Regiment, 1861-65 

Askew, W. Private, killed Ft. Harrison, Sept. 3, 1864 
Askew, J. Private, killed Garretts Farm, June 28, 1864 
Anderson, G. Private, killed Mechanicsville, May 24, 1862 
Atkins, J. P. Private, died, illness Aug. 10, 1861 
Aaron, G. Private, killed, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Barrett, J. Private, Discharged, illness, Aug. 8, 1861 
Bruce, E. D. Private, Discharged, illness, Aug. 8, 1861 
Brewer, G. W. Private, Died of illness, Feb. 26, 1863 
Bruce, W. R. Private, Died of illness, Sept. 10, 1863 
Bruce, W. S. Private, Died of illness, Sept. 10, 1863 
Brewer, S. G. Private, killed, Gettysburg, July 23, 1863 
Brown, A. W. Private, Died of wounds, March 8, 1863 
Brook, J. E. Private, Killed, Wilderness, May 6, 1864 
Bailey, J. W. Private, Wounded, Wilderness, disch. Aug. 8, 1861 
Black, T. J. 1st. Lt., Wounded Garrets Farm, June 28, 1862 
Collins, F. Private, Killed, July 21, 1861 
Clifton, J. Private, Killed Garrets Farm, June 28, 1862 
Chapman, L. Q. Private, Died from illness, May 10, 1862 
Chapman. J. Private, Died from illness, May 10, 1862 
Cone, J. Private, Discharged, Aug. 10, 1861 
Copelan, W. R. Private, Discharged, Feb. 8, 1862 
Copelan, J. O. Private, Killed Gettysburg, July 3. 1863 
Copelan, W. D. Private, Killed Knoxville, Nov. 29, 1863 
Copelan, W. H. Private, Killed Funktown, July 6, 1863 
Copelan, J. J. Private, Killed Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Compton, J. Private, Killed Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Christopher, J. G. Private, wounded 1st Manassas, Tulv 21, 1861 
Calvin, T. Private, wounded Gettysburg, Tuly 21, 1863 
Clark, W. H. 3rd Lt., Resigned, Aug. 1862 
Cone, F. H. 1st Sgt., killed, Yorktown, May 3, 1862 
Copelan. J. F. 3rd Cpl., wounded, Darbytown, Oct. 7, 1864 
Davis, W. G. Private, wounded, Gettysburg, Tune 28, 1863 
Davis, J. E. Private, wounded, Gettysburg July 3, 1863 
Dobbs, D. M. Private, wounded, Rappahanock, Aug. 10, 1862 
Dobbs, E. C. Private, wounded, Rappahanock, Aug. 10, 1862 
Dobbs, G. L. Private, wounded, 1st Manassas, Tuly 21, 1861 
Daniel, A. Private, killed, 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 
Daniel. W. Private, killed, 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 
Day, E. Private, discharged, illness, Feb. 6, 1862 
Dawson, G. O. Capt., wounded, Gettysburg, male Maj. July 6, 1863 
Everett, S. H. Private, wounded, Garretts Farm. June 28, 1862 
Fverett, T. A. Private, wounded, Garretts Farm, Tune 28, 1862 
EA r erett, B. F. Private, discharged, illness, Oct. 10, 1861 
Foster, J. Private, killed, Garretts Farm, Tune 28. 1862 
Finche, J. E. Private, wounded at Gettysburg, Darbyt. July 3, 1863 
and Oct. 7, 1864 




406 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Gentry, R. A. Private, wounded Garretts and Gettysburg, 1862-1863 

Gentry, S. T. Private, wounded Garretts and Gettysburg, 1862-1863 

Goss, A. Private, wounded Garretts and Gettysburg, 1862-1863 
Godwin, G. Private, wounded Garretts and Gettysburg, 1862-1863 
Gordon, J. D. Private, killed, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Goodnight, 1st Cpl., wounded, Harrisburg, July 3, 1863 
Harbin, W. R. Private, killed Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Holder, W. Private, wounded Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Heard, G. Private, killed 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 
Heard, W. F. Private, killed 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Howell, F. S. Private, killed, 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Howell, L. Private, killed, 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 
Heard, C. 3rd Sgt., wounded Gettysburg, June 6, 1863 (major) 

Johnson, E. Private, killed, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 

Jones, H. B. 4th Cpl., killed, Ft. Harrison, Sept. 3, 1864 

Kinney, W. R. Private, wounded, Ft. Harrison, Sept. 30, 1864 

Lane, W. H. Private, wounded, Petersburg, Aug. 7, 1864 

Ledbetter, Private, killed Garretts Farm, June 28, 1862 

Lunceford, P. H. Private, wounded, Wilderness, May 6, 1864 

Mays, E. J. Private, killed Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 

Moody, J. W. Private, killed Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 

Mitchell, W. P. Private, killed Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 

Mitchell, J. H. Private, wounded Garretts Farm (disch.), June 28, 1863 

Moore, D. Private, killed, 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Moreland, J. Private, killed 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Merritt, B. F. Private, wounded 1st Manassas died, Dec. 15, 1861 

Merritt, F. Private, wounded 1st Manassas and discharged, Aug. 10, 1861 

McClesky, J. W. Private, wounded Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 

Marchman, C. A. Private, wounded Petersburg, May 10, 1864 

Malory, C. Private, killed in r.r. accident, Feb. 6, 1862 

McCall, J. P. 2nd Sgt., resignel Aug. 7, 1862 

Nichols, T. Private, killed, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 

Nichols, W. P. Private, disch. acct of old age, Feb. 4, 1863 

O’Brien, J. Private, disch. acct. of old age, Feb. 4. 1863 

Oliver, T. J. Private, killed, Knoxville, Nov. 28, 1863 

Owens, C. Private, wounded, Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864 

O’Rear, W. J. 2nd Cpl., wounded Gaines Mill, June 10, 1864 

Parnell, J. B. Private, wounded Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864 

Price, E. N. Private, wounded Gaines Mill, June 10, 1864 

Price, J. Private, killed 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Palmore, J. Private, killed 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861 

Powers, N. F. Private, died from illness, Dec. 10, 1861 

Parks, J. Private, disc., illness, Feb. 6, 1862 

Parrott, Private, disc., illness, Feb. 6, 1862 

Rhodes, J. Private, disc., illness, Feb. 6, 1862 

Rhodes, H. Private, disc., illness, Feb. 6, 1861 

Ranson, T. H. Private, wounded, Rappahanock, Aug. 10, 1862 

Raden, D. Private, disch. illness, Oct. 1, 1861 

Robinson, W. H. Private, wounded Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 
Ray, B. F. Private, wounded Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 
Reid, J. C. 2nd Lt., wounded at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 
Roberts, E. Private, wounded Wilderness, killed r.r., June 4, 1861 
Smith, A. H. Private, wounded Wilderness, Nov. 8, i863 
Smith, C. R. Private, wounded Wilderness, Nov. 8, 1863 
Smith, T. Private, died, illness, Aug. 15, 1861 
Sears, W. P. Private, died, illness, April 13, 1862 
Shed, R. Private, died, illness, Feb. 18, 1864 
Sidwell, J. Private, died, illness, Feb. 18, 1864 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


407 


Schlein, F. Private, died, illness, Feb. 18, 1864 
Stover, C. C. Private, died, illness, Feb. 18, 1864 
Thornton, J. F. 4th Sgt., wounded at Winchester and disc. 1861 
Townsend, E. Private, wounded Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 
Wood, J. Private, wounded Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 
Wood, J. W. Private, wounded Garretts Farm, June 28, 1863 
Watson, B. Private, disch. for illness, Aug. 18, 1861 
Williams, A. Private, wounded Petersburg, Va., Aug. 3, 1864 
Williams, P. P. Private, wounded Petersburg, Va., Aug. 3, 1864 
Williams, J. Private, wounded Petersburg, Va., Aug. 3, 1864 
Watterson, P. Private, disc, for illness, May 4, 1862 
Williams, J. D. Private, died from illness, June 27, 1861 
Willis, G. W. Private, died from illness, June 27, 1861 

The record shows that few if any healthy men ever returned to their 
homes. Unfortunately this is the only one out of four companies that went 
from Greene County that a complete record of each soldier was recorded. 


Muster Roll of the \lth Regiment , G\a. Militia. 
Greene Co. 1861-65 


Allen, D. E. 

Dunn, James B. 

Ashley, C. E. 

Dolvin, Jas. H. 

Atkinson, G. J. P. 

Andrews, Wm. R. 

Ealy, J. I. 

Andrews, Adam 

Ealy, Jno. H. 

Armor, Jas. N. 

Epps, John 

Askew, Joshua 

Ebps, Nathaniel 

Askew, Griffin 

Bass, Wm. 

Foster, Seaborn 
Fleetwood, L. B. 

Baugh, Richard 

Fillingham, J. 

Brooks, J. I. 

Bryan, Wm. 

Gibson, S. L. 

Bruce, Mark 

Grant, C. E. 

Brewer, Wiley 

Grant, Jno. G. 

Beasley, Jas. 

Grant, Joseph 

Bowden, Robt. C. 

Griffin, Walter 

Broome, Stephen 

Brown, J. L. 

Hall, Jas. H. 

Carr, James H. 

Hackney, Jno. O. 
Harris, John 

Caldwell, L. D. 

Heard, Henry 

Cartwright, J. B. 

Howell, J. M. 

Cartwright, W. B. 

Hutchinson, Thos. 

Carmichael, Jno. C. 

Channel, Jas. 

Irby, Richard 

Cridillo, R. A. 

Irby, Wm. 

Corry, Wm. A. 

Crutchfield, Robt. F. 

Johnston, Geo. 

Clements, Phillip 

Johnson, W. G. 

Clements, Wm. 

Jones, James 

Cofield, Thos. 

Jernigan, A. 

Champion, Jno. A. 

Couch, Hiriam 

King, E. L. 

Couch, John 

King, Dr. H. H. 

King, John 


408 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


King, Hugh M. 
Kimbrough, L. M. 
Kimbrough, Wm. 
Kimbrough, Issaih 
Kimbrough, Hugh 

Lewis, Miles W. 
Lundy, Arch 
Lynch, Elihu 
Ledbetter, F. H. 

Manley, Wm. 
Mapp, W. J. 

Mapp, R. H. 

Mapp, J. H. 
Merritt, Jno. 
Merritt, Henry C. 
McDaniel, M. 
Merritt, W. T. 
Merritt, Jno. C. 
Moon, Geo. 

Moon, J. D. 

Moon, Wm. 

Moore, J. J. 

Moore, J. D. 
Moore, W. W. 
Moore, W. D. 
Mosely, Thos. 

Nims, Wm. H. 

O’Neal, Jno. 
O’Neal, James 
Owens, Jefferson 
Oliver, Jackson 

Palmer, Jno. C. 
Parker, J. R. 
Pachelor, Jesse 
Pinkston, A. S. 
Pittman, Joel 
Perkins, A. H. 
Phillips, Thos. 
Poullain, Wm. 
Poullard, W. J. 
Potter, Jas. S. 

Richards, E. M. 


Rowland, Jno. 

Rowland, Dr. Jno. J. 

Robinson, T. W. 

Rhodes, Robert 
M. Rhodes, Henry 

Sanford, T. D. 

Seals, Phelps 
Shed, Chrelow 

Shestrom, . 

Smith, R. A. 

Smith, Richard 
Smith, Thos. R. 

Stewart, Jas. C. 

Stewart, Simon H. 

Stanley, Thomas 
Swann, Jno. W. 

Smith, Wm. C. 

Strozier, R. J. 

Tappan, A. B. 

Taylor, H. S. 

Taylor, John 
Thompson, W. I. 

Turner, Henry 
Turner, Cullen 
Tunnell, Jesse W. 

Underwood, George C. 
Underwood, Franklin 

Veasey, E. A. 

Vincent, C. A. 

Walker, S. R. Lt. Col. 

Walker, Jno. E. Sgt. 

Wagnon, Jno. S. 

Waterson, John 
Weaver, H. C. Sgt. Major 
Willis, A. L. 

Wilson, J. J. 

Wilks, Jno. 

Williams, W. P. 

Wingfield, P. W. Quartermaster 
Williams, William 
Wright, W. H. 

Wright, Jefferson F. 

Wright. Tno. W. 

Wood, Wm. 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


409 


MILITARY RECORDS 1861-65 
Regimental Report \6th Reg. G. M. Headquarters \6th 
Reg. 2nd Brigade Co. Ga. July 26, 1862. 


Field Officers and Staff 

Williams, R. S. Col. Commissioned May 9, 1861 
Davison, James, Lt. Col. Commissioned Aug. 10, 1861 
Moody, W. Major, Commissioned Aug. 10, 1861 
Boswell, Geo. N. Quartermaster 
Woodfin, Wm. G. Paymaster 
Wilson, Wm. R. Adj. 

Harris, W. L. M. Surgeon 

James, Thos. P. Assistant Surgeon 

Sullivan, Judge Advocate 

District Officers 137 

English, John D. Capt. July 28, 1862 

Moody, E. B., 1st Lt. Sept. 28, 1862 

Griffith, George, 2nd Lt. July 18, 1862 

Reynolds, 3rd Lt. Sept. 28, 1862 

District Officers 138 

Carlton, John T. Capt. Sept. 14, 1861 

Derant, W. F. 1st Lt. Sept. 14, 1861 

Carlton, T. C. 2nd Lt. Sept. 14, 1861 

Cox, Jas. A. 3rd Lt. Sept. 14, 1861 

District Officers 140 

Beasley, W. A. Capt. 

Calloway, E. F. M. 1st Lt. 

Hixen, E. C. 2nd Lt. 

Says, J. J. 3rd Lt. 

District Officers 145 

Watson, J. S. Capt. July 8, 1862 

Davis, G. C. 1st Lt. July 8, 1862 

Durham, G. W. 2nd Lt. July 8, 1862 

Ray, J. F. 3rd Lt. July 8, 1862 

District Officers 146 

McGarghey, J. M. Capt. June 28, 1862 

Gresham, Y. F. 1st Lt. June 28, 1862 

Broom, L. C. 2nd Lt. June 28, 1862 

McGaughev, T. C. 3rd Lt. June 28, 1862 

District Officers 147 

Burges, E. A. Capt. Sept. 26, 1862 

Nelson, W. G. 1st Lt. Sept. 26, 1862 

Jewel, W. 2nd Lt. Sept. 26, 1862 

Fambrough, F. L. 3rd Lt. Sept. 26, 1862 

District Officers 148 

Sanders, J. H. Capt. June 18, 1862 

Willett, J. E. 1st Lt. Sept. 28, 1861 

Lankford, J. M. 2nd Lt. Sept. 28, 1861 


Adjt & Inspr. Genl. 
H. C. Wayne 
General, 


Greensboro Geo. 
May 16th, 1862. 


410 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Annexed please find list of the officers Brevetted by me in compliance 
with General Orders No. 8— 

Also the Commissioned officers of my Regiment, & the commissioned 
Company officers with dates of Commissions, (as far as have been 
able to ascertain) which I give you at their request—Your order re¬ 
quiring them to report by letter to you— 

I will also at an early day report the number & quality of arms, in 
the Regiment. 


Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Servt. 

W. G. Johnson 
Col. 17 Regt. G. M. 

W. G. Johnson Col. Date of Commission 13th March 1861 
L. R. Walker Lieut. Col. date of Commission 27th March 1861 
John W. Swan Major, date of Commission 27th March 1861 
A. J. S. Jackson Adjt. date of Commission 3rd June 1861 

141 District G. M. 

John P. Wagnen Capt. Brevet 
S. H. Stuart 1 Lieut. Commissnd. 

C. C. Bowden 2 Lieut. Commissnd. 

Robert Crutchfield 3 Lieut. Brvt. 

142 District 

Eli A. Veasy Capt. Brevet. 

John H. Ealey 1 Lieut. Comsd. 20 July 61 
Joel J. Ruark 2 Lieut. Comsd. 20 July 61 
John C. Merritt 3 Lieut. Comsd. 20 July 61 

143 District 

James M Osborn Capt Comsd 4th May 61 
J. W. Winfield 1 Lieut Brevet 
Jesse P. Wilson 2 Lieut Brevet 
Jesse Tunnel 3 Lieut Brevet 

144 District 

C. E. Grant Capt. Commissioned 

No other officers appointed in this district for the present—will fill out 
soon— 

160 District 

J. S. Rainwater Capt Brevet 
Phelps Seals 1 Lieut Brevet 
Isaiah Kimbrough 2 Lieut Brevet 
Augustus Kimbrough 3 Lieut Brevet 

161 District 

George A. Hall Capt Brevet 
Jas. N. Arnoor 1 Lieut Brevet 
R. B. Armor 2 Lieut Brevet 
L. M. Kimbrough 3 Lieut Brevet 

162 District 

R. A. Criddelle Capt Brevet 
Thos. H. Hutchinson 1 Lieut Brevet 
Miles G Copelan 2 Lieut Brevet 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


411 


3rd not filled 
163 District 

J. P. Harris Capt Commissioned 
Richard H. Baugh 1st Lieut Brevet 
John G. Rowland 2 Lieut Brevet 
John A. Champion 3 Lieut Brevet 


On reverse: 

Recorded 
Greene County. 

Col: Wm. G. Johnson 

Report under 
Genl: Orders No. 8. 
16. May 1862. 
Greensboro 


District Officers 149 

Thompson, W. H. Capt. Mar. 1, 1861 
Jones, W. S. 1st Lt. Mar. 1, 1861 
Hawkins, John J. 2nd Lt. Mar. 1, 1861 

Report under general orders No. 8, giving staff officers, number districts, dates 
commissioned, company officers. 

R. L. Williams, Col. Com. 

Bairdston, Ga. Aug. 1, 1862 
To Adj. Gen. H. C. Wayne Esq. 

Milledgeville, Ga. 


When the Greene County Boys Marched to War in 1861. 

For some unknown reason there is not a complete record of 
the Greene County soldiers who took part in the War Between 
the States. Many people have wanted these records and I have 
pieced together the records I have dug out of dusty records and 
old files that have been pigeonholed for nearly 100 years and 
soldiers of the 17th Georgia Regiment have just come to light. 
There were six officers and 148 privates. John A. Swann, was 
Colonel, W. G. Johnson, Colonel J. S. Hall, Lieut., Crabbe, 
Major. 

The Militia organization was as follows: W. G. Johnson, 
commissioned Colonel on March 13, 1861, T. R. Walker Lt. 
Col., John W. Swann, Major, H. C. Weaver, Sgt. Major, J. W. 
Wingfield, Quartermaster, John E. Walker, Surgeon. 


412 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Privates 

Ashley, C. E. 
Atkinson, T. J. P. 
Allen, D. E. 
Andrews, Adam 
Akins, Wm. 

Armor, Jas. N. 
Askew, Joshua 
Askew, Griffin 
Ahlstrom, J. P. 

Bass, Wm. 

Bachelor, Jesse 
Baugh, Richard 
Bauchum, Perry 
Beasley, Jas. 

Bruce, Mark 
Bryan, Wm. 

Brewer, Wiley 
Brooks, J. J. 

Bowden, Robt. C. 
Broome, Alpheus 
Brown, J. L. 

Carr, Jas. H. 
Carmichael, Jno. C. 
Cartwright, J. B. 
Caldwell, L. D. 
Cartwright, W. B. 
Cridelle, R. A. 
Channel, Jas. 

Corry, Wm. A. D. 
Crutchfield, Robt. F. 
Clements, Wm. 
Clements. Phillip 
Cofield, Thos. 
Cowfield, W. J. 
Champion, Jno. A. 
Conch, Hiram 
Conch, John 
Dolvin, Jas. H. 

Dunn, Jas. B. 

Ealey, Jno. H. 

Elsey, J. P. 

Epps, John 
Epps, Nathaniel 
Fleetwood, L. B. 
Fillingham, J. 

Foster, Seaborn 
Grant, Jno. G. 

Grant, Joseph 
Gibson, S. L. 

Grant, C. E. 

Griffin, Walter 
Harris, Jno. P. 

Hall, Jas. H. 
Hackney, Jno. O. 
Hutchinson, Thos. S. 
Howell, J. M. 
Howell, S. A. 


Privates 

Heard, Henry 
Irby, Richard 
Irby, Wm. 
Jackson, Oliver 
Jernigan, A. A. 
Jones, Jas. 
Johnston, George 
King, E. L. 

King, Dr. H. H. 
King, John 
King, Hugh M. 
Kimbrough, Wm. 
Kimbrough, A. L. 
Kimbrough, Isaih 
Kimbrough, L. M. 
Lewis, Miles W. 
Lundy, Arch P. 
Lynch, Elihu 
Ledbetter, L. H. 
Manley, Wm. 
Mapp, J. H. 

Mapp, R. H. 

Mapp, W. J. 

Moon, Wm. 

Moon, George 
Merritt, John 
Merritt, Henry C. 
Merritt, John C. 
Moore, J. J. 

Moore, J. D. 
Moore, W. W. 
Moore, Dr. I. D. 
Moore, W. D. 
Moreland, Jno. W. 
Mosely, Thos. 
Merritt, W. T. 
McDaniel, M. R. 
O’Neal, Jas. S. 
Owens. Jefferson 
O’Neal Jno. 

O’Neil, Harrison 
O’Neil, James 
Parker, J. R. 
Palmer, John C. 
Perkins, A. H. 
Phillips, Thos. 
Pinkston, A. S. 
Potter, Jas. S. 
Poullain, Wm. 
Pollard, W. J. 
Pittman, Joel 
Richards, E. M. 
Rhodes, Robert 
Rhodes, Henry 
Rowland, Dr. Jon. 
Rowland, Tohn 
Robinson, T. W. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


413 


Privates 

Privates 

Seals, Phelps 

Turner, Cullen 

Shed, Phrelon 

Turned, Jesse W. 

Smith, Thos. R. 

Underwood, Geo. C. 

Sanford, T. D. 

Underwood, Franklin 

Smith, Wm. C. 

Veazy, E. A. 

Strozier, R. J. 

Vincent, C. A. 

Stewart, Jas. C. 

Williams, W. P. 

Stanley, Thos. 

Wright, Jno. W. 

Sanford, T. D. 

Wilks, Jno. 

Stewart, Simeom 

Wagnon, John S. 

Smith, Richard 

Williams, William 

Turner, Henry 

Waterson, John 

Tappan, A. B. 

Wood, Wm. 

Thompson, W. J. 

Wright, Jeff F. 

Taylor, H. S. 

Wilson, J. P. 

Taylor, John 

Wright, W. H. 

Turner, Henry 

Willis, A. L. 


Confederate Soldiers Buried at Penfield Cemetery 
(not complete ) 

1. William J. Boswell, (father of Felix Boswell and Mrs. Edd Lewis. 

2. Joseph Osgood Boswell, (father of Walter and Jim Boswell, California). 

3. Reuben Benjamin Boswell, (father of Ralph M., Ellie, Mrs. John T. Col- 
doughs). 4 John Reid Boswell, (father of A. J. and Reid Boswell). 5. Dr. 
James M. Griffin, (Mrs. A. J. Boswell’s father). 6. Buried at Shiloh Cemetery, 
Two Mullins brothers, graves marked. 7. James D. Champion (father of Mamie 
Champion Corker of N. Y.). 8. Two Coldough boys, Thomas and Franklin, 
buried in home cemetery four miles west of Penfield, graves marked. 

Dennis N. Sanders, b. May 4, 1839 d. Sept. 6, 1897 

Billington Sanders, b. Aug. 23, 1833 d. June 21, 1883 

Rev. John Sanders Calloway, Jan. 1839-Dec. 20, 1914 

Thomas McGaughey, 1833 - 

Wm. H. McCarty, April 1, 1838-June 20, 1923 

Simeon T. Peek 1808 - 1898 

Jas. D. Champion Sept. 25, 1838 - Sept. 22, 1912 

Columbus Campbell, Oct. 24, 1844 - April 18, 1912 

James Madison Griffin, Feb. 24, 1836 - March 24, 1916 

Dr. Madison McGaughey, 1835-1901 

Major Robert L. McWhorter (moved family graves to Woodville) 

Fred McWhorter, C.S.A. 

William Lindsey, Co. C. 3rd Ga. Inf. C.S.A. 

A. W. Gresham, Co. A. 5th Ga. Calv. C.S.A. 

Jas. N. English, Co. C. 3rd Ga. Inf., C.S.A. 

Mullins’ (four boys) buried at Shiloh. 

Dr. Thos P. Janes, Graduate of Harvard. 1st Com. of Agri. 


414 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Sherman!s Raiders 

Sherman’s raiders, Park’s Mill and the flight of Jefferson 
Davis were all exciting events which took place in Greene 
County and Georgia in the last part of the War Between the 
States. 

On Nov. 19th, 1864, Geary, a Federal General command¬ 
ing the left wing, or part of it, in Sherman’s army had burned 
all the equipment of the railroad and hundreds of bales of cot¬ 
ton and buildings in the vicinity. Next burned was the railroad 
bridge of the Ga. railroad over the Oconee and then they 
camped for the night at Lee Jordan’s plantation while the sky 
was aglow with the flames from the fires. That night they took 
what they could and burned 50,000 bushels of corn. 

Sunday morning of the 20th of Nov. they burned Park’s 
mill in Greene County and set fire to the historic Park’s home 
but the faithful slave, Cyrus saved the home with heroic work 
using wet blankets and water, so this home still stands today. 
Then the Federals crossed the Oconee chased a few Confeder¬ 
ates away over the same road which in May 1865 the Federals 
were chasing more important men. (Pres. Jefferson Davis) 

James B. Park, Sr. owned this mill and operated a ferry 
and the tolls from this ferry were put in a strong hickory wood 
chest which had only a slot in the top and was not opened until 
the death of the owner, at which time the amount was found to 
be $100,000. 

After the Federals had burned and destroyed about every¬ 
thing in their path they moved on toward Savannah and on to 
Columbia and to Durham Station, N. C. where on April 26, 
1865 Johnston surrendered his Confederate army of Tennessee. 

Pres. Jefferson Davis had left Richmond, the Confederate 
capital with his cabinet on Sunday, April 2, 1865 and started 
south. On that day Selma, Alabama fell to the Federals and on 
April 9th Gen. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. On the next 
Sundav Federal Wilson took West Point and Columbus, Ga. 
Pres. Jefferson went to Danville, Charlotte and to Washington, 
Ga. leaving there May 4th and on to Union Point and Greens- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


415 


boro. Tradition says that the President of the Confederate 
States spent the night of Thursday May 4, 1865 in the old 
James Park, Sr.’s home on the Oconee river, then in Morgan 
Co. but later in Greene Co., then back in Morgan. This “stran¬ 
ger” did not divulge his name and asked to be notified if Feder- 
als came into the vicinity and left guards posted about. (See 
Chapt. XIII.) 


No. 11. 

PATRIOTIC WOMEN 

Edmond Burke said: “He will not look into the past 
to see the way our forebears have traveled cannot with cer¬ 
tainty interpret the present nor with clarity chart the future.” 
With this thought in mind, I hope those who are growing tired 
of “old stuff” will not forget that there is much to learn about 
our forebears and the rugged road they had to travel in order 
to make Greene county what it is; and how negligent many 
of us have been in maintaining the same high standard that they 
have set for us. 


In every crisis our noble women have met the needs of the 
times most patriotically. Under the following heading there is 
a list of names that have been preserved in the Greene County 
Ordinary’s office: 


“Names of persons who knitted socks, given to the Volunteers of Greene Co.” 
(1861-1865) 

Name Name 


Miss Julia E. M. Sanders 
Miss Carrie Simmons 
Miss Mollie Simmons 
Miss Emma Simmons 
Mrs. E. P. Jarrell 
Mrs. John Chappelle 
Miss Sarah Chappelle 
Miss Julia Brook 
Mrs. Sarah Brook 
Mrs. L. H. Loyd 
Mrs. Sarah White 
Mrs. John Smith 
Miss Sallie Smith 


Mrs. Sarah Cox 
Mrs. John D. English 
Mrs. T. Tiller 
Miss Annie H. Newsome 
Miss Ella M. Tiller 
Soldiers Relief Society of Greene 
County by Mrs. Y. P. King 
Mrs. L. T. Hurlbert 
Mrs. Anna Baugh 
Mrs. H. Crawford 
Miss L. H. Crawford 
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Eley 
Lucy, servant of J. J. Eley 



416 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Name 

Sarah, servant of J. J. Eley 
Mrs. Seaborn Jernigan 
Mrs. Hardy Jernigan 
Miss Emma Jernigan 
Mrs. Wiley Wright 
Mrs. Mary Strozier 
Mrs. Eliza Reynolds 
Miss Mary Cainup 
Miss Charity Cainup 
Miss Mary Wortham 
Miss Elizabeth Wortham 
Miss Cornelia Wortham 
Miss Nancy Wortham 
Miss Susan Connell 
Miss Orra Connell 
Miss Adaline Connell 
Miss Caroline Connell 
Miss Ella V. Fambrough 
Miss Emma Fambrough 
Mrs. Delia Fambrough 
Mrs. Jane A. Fambrough 
Miss Martha E. Fambrough 
Mrs. Virginia E. Burgess 
Mrs. Peggy Freeman 
Mrs. Sarah E. Ray 
Mrs. Mary Short 
Mrs. Martha Edmondson 
Mrs. Francis E. Nelson 
Mrs. Lucy Thomas 
Mrs. Susan Walls 
Mrs. Alla Ray 
Mrs. Nancy Ray 
Mrs. Augusta E. Burgess 
Mrs. Martha Francis 
Miss Adeline Freeman 
Miss Jane H. Wragg 
Lorenza, Servant, Dr. Poullain 
Lige, Servant, Dr. Poullain 
John, Servant, Dr. Poullain 
Clayborn, Servant, Dr. Poullain 
Caty, Servant, Dr. Poullain 
Mrs. Mary W. Anderson 
Mrs. Mary E. Kimbrough 
Airs. Marv A. Credille 
Miss M. F. Credille 
Mrs. James W. Jackson 
Mrs. M. R. Hobbs 
Airs. H. Hobbs 
Miss E. F. Hobbs 
Miss Mary Jenkins 
Mrs. Sarah Chapman, Tal’ro. 

Airs. Rebecca Lacy, Tal’ro. 

Miss Josephine Moore, Tal’ro. 
Miss Martha A. Reynolds, Tal’ro. 
Miss S. A. R. Reynolds, Tal’ro. 
Mrs. T. L. Johnson, Tal’ro. 


Name 

Mrs. Nancy Reynolds, Tal’ro. 

Miss Roberta E. Moore, Tal’ro. 
Mrs. Martha Jordan, Tal’ro. 

Miss Nancy W. Peek, Tal’ro. 

Aliss Jane M. Peek, Tal’ro. 

Miss Susan E. Peek, Tal’ro 
Airs. Olivia Harris, Tal’ro. 

Miss Georgia A. Reynolds, Tal’ro. 
Mrs. A. Lightfoot, Tal’ro. 

Airs. Sarah J. Parker, Tal’ro. 

Mrs. Mary A. Moore, Tal’ro. 

Miss Corine C. Moore, Greene 
Miss Ann Grant 
Mrs. W. W. Moore 
Aliss Matilda V. Moore 
Miss Eliza J. Moore 
Airs. M. M. Jackson 
Mrs. Sarah Grant 
Mrs. Phiriby Alexander 
Mrs. Cora Groat 
Mrs. M. A. Credille 
Aliss Julia H. Holtzclaw 
Mrs. Fannie A. Morgan 
Mrs. Elizabeth Durham 
Mrs. Nancy C. Durham 
Mrs. Matilda Z. Durham 
Mrs. M. E. Jackson 
A soldier’s wife 
Mrs. John Perdue 
Miss P. Pardee 
Mrs. Dr. J. AI. Davant 
Mrs. James Cocroft 
Mrs. H. Cocroft 
Mrs. W. F. Davant 
Mrs. Pheriba A. Pierce 
Airs. Anna Baugh 
Mrs. Walter Griffin 
Miss M. A. West 
Miss E. J. West 
Mrs. Margaret West 
Miss Claudia Weaver 
Mrs. Sarah G. McHenry 
Rose, a servant 
Miss Mary P. Johnson, Taliaf. 
Mrs. Celia Ann Johnson, Taliaf. 
Airs. James A. Preston, Greene 
Mrs. John Wilson 
Miss E. A. Wright 
Airs. H. B. Poullain 
Mrs. Sarah G. McHenry 
Miss Alarion McHenry 
Pleasant, a servant 
Rose, a servant 
Mrs. Martha Jean (Janes) 

Mrs. Junius Poullain 
Mrs. Sallie Wright 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


417 


Miss Josephine Echols 
Miss Miriam Echols 
Miss Mollie C. Echols 
Miss Hattie Wheeler 
Miss Mary C. Wheeler 
Mrs. Winifred Haley 
Mrs. Anna A. Whitlaw 
Mrs. S. A. Hogg 
Mrs. H. E. Johnson 
Miss M. J. Hogg 
Miss M. A. Hogg 
Mrs. Martha B. Jewell 
Mrs. Sarah F. Colclough 
Airs. L. E. O’Rear 
Miss Ellen J. O’Rear 
Miss Fannie Spencer 
Mrs. C. G. Spencer 

Mary, servant of Mrs. Spencer 
Miss Julia E. M. Sanders, Cov. 
Miss Lizzie Wright 
Miss Laura McWhorter 
Miss Jane E. McWhorter 


Mrs. L. A. Peek 
Mrs. Sara G. McHenry 
Mrs. Nancy Colclough 
Miss Susan E. Colclough 
Miss Sara A. Colclough 
Miss Rebecca D. Colclough 
Name 

Mrs. Martha Alfriend 
Miss Ann McDaniel 
Sarah, servant of E. D. Alfriend 
Marilla, servant of E. D. Alfriend 
Manerva, servant of E.D. Alfriend 
Mrs. Jane K. Lundy 
Miss Mary J. Lundy 
Miss Sallie E. Lundy 
Adrian, serv’t of L. W. Lundy 
Lydia, serv’t of L. W. Lundy 
Mrs. James L. Brown 
Sarah, a little serv’t of 
James L. Brown 
Mrs. Caroline Credille’s serv’t 


All of the above sent to Ira R. Foster, Atlanta, Ga., on January 23, 1863. 


This roll call of our noble women who knitted and skimped 
while their fathers, brothers, and sweethearts fought, and many 
never returned, comes too late for them to see their names re¬ 
corded in history; but some of their children and grandchildren 
will no doubt feel grateful that their names and efforts have 
been preserved. 

The great deeds of soldiers are recorded in history, but 
too little has been recorded of the efforts of the noble women 
whose love, prayers, and sacrifices sustained them while they 
fought. 

Unfortunately, there seems to be no record of the women 
who met trains conveying troops and administered to their 
needs, but from hearsay, we know there were many who render¬ 
ed valuable service at Greensboro, Union Point and other places 
in our county. ‘Wayside” became famous among the soldiers 
for the loving services rendered by the good women of Union 
Point; and the name of Mrs. Jennie Hart Sibley was revered by 
many who passed that way. Let us hope that the names of those 
who knitted, made bandages and rendered other valuable serv- 



418 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ices for the soldiers in the World War have been preserved; 
and we trust that the Red Cross Chapters at Greensboro, Union 
Point, White Plains, Woodville, Penfield and such other points 
as maintained chapters will furnish a full list of those who en¬ 
gaged in this noble service. Mrs. Noel P. Park took the lead in 
organizing Red Cross Chapters throughout the county; and, 
while the writer was chosen chairman, headed all the money¬ 
raising campaigns, and furnished a work room free of rent, and 
has continued as chairman to date (1935), he wants those who 
did the work and gave their money to have all the glory. How¬ 
ever, we must not forget that the Greensboro Herald-Journal 
gave liberally of its space and money, not only during the World 
War, but for every roll-call, and every emergency call since; 
but it is to impersonal to merely mention the name of the paper, 
so we will come right out and say we are indebted to “Uncle 
Jim” Williams and his able son and co-editor, Carey J. Wil¬ 
liams whose name is on the list of “Who’s Who” in American 
Journalism. We thank both “Uncle Jim” and Carey for their 
loyalty and contributions. 

“JEFF SHUCKS”—JEFFERSON DAVIS’ CURRENCY 
By T. B. Rice 

During the last year of the Southern Confederacy, its cur¬ 
rency had become so depreciated in value that it took a vast roll 
to pay for what a few dollars would buy in normal times: so the 
“darkies” began calling it “Jeff Shucks”—the term, shucks, was 
often applied to many things that were valueless. Another 
phrase, quite common in the long-ago was, “chips and whet¬ 
stones”. This term was applied to the payment of obligations 
with other things than money. For example; if you asked a 
“darkie” if Mr. So-and-so had paid him he would say, “yesser, 
he paid me in chips and whetstones.” In other words, many 
Southerners had to pay for labor, and other things, with such 
as they had, and the “coin of the realm” was as scarce as hen 
teeth. 

This reminds me of a story told by Mr. M. M. Morgan, 
a retired Rural mail carrier, in telling of the poverty among 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


419 


some of the people he served, he said; “As I stopped my old 
gray horse to deliver some mail, and started off, an old lady 
said; “Mr. Morgan, can’t you wait a minute, I want to mail 
a letter and I aint got no money to buy a stamp, but my old 
hen is on the nest and she will lay in a minute or two, and 
just as soon as she lays I will give you the egg for a stamp.”— 
Mr. Morgan waited. 

When “Jeff Shucks” played out, and when times got a 
little better—but still bad enough, a few conscienceless men, 
mostly Carpetbaggers, used other means to rob “cuff”—mean¬ 
ing uneducated “darkies”. They paid them in Mexican dollars 
which, at that time, were worth fifty cents on the dollar in 
U. S. coin; but “cuff” soon discovered that the Mexican dollars 
were only a little better than “Jeff Shucks”, so this racket soon 
came to an end. 

The following poem was written on the back of a Con¬ 
federate bill, by S. A. Jonas of Richmond, Virginia, given him 
in payment of his services as a soldier: 

THE CONFEDERATE NOTE 
By Major S. A. Jonas 

Representing nothing on God’s earth now, 

And naught in the waters below it, 

As the pledge of a nation that’s dead and gone. 

Keep it, dear friend, and show it. 

Show it to those who will lend an ear 
To the tale that this paper can tell 

Of liberty born of the patriot’s dream, 

Of a storm-cradled nation that fell. 

The days rolled by and weeks became years, 

Too poor to possess the precious ores, 

And too much of a stranger to borrow, 

We issued today our promise to pay, 

And hoped to redeem on the morrow. 

But our coffers were empty still; 

Coin was so rare that the treasury’d quake 
If a dollar should drop in the till. 

But the faith that was in us was strong, indeed, 

And our poverty well we discerned, 

And this little check represented the pay 
That our suffering veterans earned. 

We knew it had hardly a value in gold, 

Yet as gold each soldier received it; 

It gazed in our eyes with a promise to pay, 

And each Southern patriot believed it. 


420 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


But our boys thought little of price or of pay, 

Or of bills that were overdue; 

We knew if it brought us our bread today 

'Twas the best our poor country could do. 

Keep it; it tells all our history over, 

From the birth of the dream to its last; 

Modest, and born of the angel Hope, 

Like our hope of success it passed. 

(S. A. Jonas, Richmond, Virginia) 

S. A. Jonas wrote many articles of much credit in both 
prose and poetry, but his best claim for perpetual remembrance 
is the above poem which he wrote on the back of a Confederate 
note. 


CONFEDERATE HALF-DOLLARS 
By T. B. Rice 

The writer has had much to say, recently, about Confeder¬ 
ate money, Jeff Shucks, etc, etc; but he made no reference to 
Confederate coinage of gold and silver. As a matter of fact, its’ 
circulation. 

The following articles, by B. F. Taylor, Dr. M. S. Brown, 
and Ben C. Truman, all three of which appeared in The Con¬ 
federate Veteran under dates of February, 1908, August, 1908, 
and April, 1909, seem to prove that very few Confederate coins 
were issued; and they were issued as proofs and never put into 
circulation. (Here are the three articles published by the Con¬ 
federate Veteran) 


Note: Some years ago, a lady in Nashville, Tenn., claimed to have a 
five-cent piece on which there is a cotton boll, for which she 
has been offered $1,000.00. Whether this is claimed to be a 
Confederate coin, the writer knoweth not. (He is also, indebted 
to Mrs. Sarah H. Hall of Athens, Ga., for the above. 

CONFEDERATE COINAGE—THE HALF DOLLARS 
By Dr. M. S. Browne, Winchester, Ky. 

The United States had a mint at New Orleans, La., and in 
January, 1861, the State took charge, turning it over to the 
Confederate Government in February, retaining all the old of¬ 
ficers: Superintendent, William A. Elmore; Treasurer, A. J. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


421 


Guirot; Coiner, Dr. B. F. Taylor; Assayer, Howard Mills- 
paugh; Refiner and Melter, Dr. M. F. Bonizano. 

In April, Mr. Memminger, Secretary of the Treasury of 
the Confederate States, accepted a design engraved for a 
half dollar, one side bearing a seven-starred shield, which rep¬ 
resented the number of States then composing the young Con¬ 
federacy. Above the shield was a liberty cap, and entwined 
around them stalks of cotton and sugar cane with the inscription, 
“Confederate States of America,” encircling all. The back was 
Uncle Sam’s old half reproduced with its thirteen starred god¬ 
dess of liberty, and on the lower rim, “1861.” The dies and 
press were made in New Orleans, from which only four coins 
were struck, when on April 30, 1861, by order of Mr. Mem¬ 
minger, Secretary of the Confederate States Treasury, coinage 
by the Confederacy was forever suspended by reason of the 
impossibility of obtaining silver bullion. 

Of the four half dollars coined, one was kept by Dr. B. F. 
Taylor, coiner, and paid out inadvertently as fare on a street 
car in New Orleans a few years later. Another, which was pre¬ 
sented to Dr. Ames, of New Orleans, was stolen soon after the 
close of the Civil War by a servant in the employ of the doc¬ 
tor’s family. Still another, which was given to Professor Biddle, 
of the University of Louisiana, was loaned to a kinsman and by 
him lost. This much was learned from friends in New Orleans 
and the archives in Washington, D. C., more than ten years 
ago without any unusual effort; but of the fourth coin I could 
only get: “It was sent to the government at Richmond.” Sup¬ 
posing that it was sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, I have 
written hundreds of letters and spent more than a decade of 
fruitless effort in trying to locate the coin thought to have been 
in Mr. Memminger’s family; but my only reward has been to 
get a fair history of the “restrikes” of these celebrated coins, 
which “restrikes” are widely distributed, and each holder there¬ 
of thinks his a genuine Confederate half dollar. The first I 
knew appeared at Cartersville, Ga., about 1865, and I have 
located several on a line from the mountains of Northeast 
Georgia and Western Carolina, through Alabama and Missis¬ 
sippi to Texas, all dropped by emigrants in wagons, making me 


422 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


believe that some Federal soldier from that section had a hand 
in the original theft of the dies from the mint when New Orleans 
was captured by Commodore Farragut. The dies were taken to 
New York, and there the person who stole them gathered more 
than five hundred of 1861 half dollars of United States mintage 
and stamped the reverse side with the stolen die, and commenced 
putting them out as from the Confederate mintage. A few years 
later secret detectives of the United States Treasury captured 
and destroyed these dies. 

In December 1909, I learned from a reputable house in 
New York, dealers in rare coins, that what is called the New 
Orleans Confederate die was in the hands of a New York numis¬ 
matist and cost him $100, and that he still used this die to supply 
the trade. You can find Confederate half dollars quoted at about 
$50 in catalogues of any dealer in coins and stamps, and this 
seems to be about the price at which these “frauds” have al¬ 
ways been disposed of. 

In a clipping from the New York Herald last month I see 
a Mr. Edgar H. Adams, of Brooklyn, New York, displayed a 
Confederate dollar at a public meeting of a Numismatic Society 
of New York City, and also a letter from President Davis, writ¬ 
ten in 1879, stating that a Confederate half dollar was taken 
from his trunk at the time of his imprisonment. Thus I seem to 
have found the missing half dollar. It went to President Davis 
and not to Mr. Memminger, and was in the trunk of President 
Davis aboard the prison ship off Old Point when Captain Hud¬ 
son and his raiding party, as described by Mrs. Davis in her 
“Memoirs,” went aboard the ship and “rifled” the trunks and 
other baggage of the President’s family. 

So the four half dollars, comprising the “all” of the Con¬ 
federate coinage, are now accounted for and each lost to the 
world beyond recognition, for I take it for granted that the 
originals could never be differentiated from the numerous “re¬ 
strikes” abroad in the land, unless Mr. Adams can prove his 
coin to be the one stolen from Mr. Davis’s trunk on board the 
prison ship in Hampton Roads the day after the landing of 
President Davis in Fortress Monroe as a prisoner. 


t 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


423 


THE LAST SILVER DOLLAR 

’Tis the last silver dollar left shining alone, 

All its bright companions are wasted and gone; 

No coin of its kindred, no specie is nigh, 

To echo back softly its silvery sigh. 

You must leave me bright dollar, the last of my few: 

Since thy mates have departed skedaddle, thou, too. 

Thus kindly I send thee to wander afar 

In a night of shin plasters, thou glimmering star. 

So soon may I follow when thou art no more, 

And I wreck of starvation on currency-less shore. 

When full purse ne’er jingles and shiners have flown, 

O who could feel wealthy on pictures alone. 

The above poem by Harvey O. Judd was written in Atlanta in 1864, while 
he was a lieutenant on General Wofford’s staff. Rev. Harvey O. Judd was 
nearly forty years an Episcopal minister. He preached at St. Pauls Episcopal 
Church, in Macon, the last eleven years of his life. 


Section IV 

RECONSTRUCTION 

The South lay beaten and prostrate, willing to concede de¬ 
feat, but never dreamed that the victors would put the iron heel 
of the military on the necks of those left. The sense of helpless¬ 
ness of a conquered people is the most tragic feature of any war. 
The South was without law and but for the fortitude of the 
women at this time, things would have been most hopeless. The 
story of the Southern women can never be told, for now who 
knows of starvation, sick children with no medicine or help, no 
education or money. No one can conceive of the hardships suf¬ 
fered during these years. The few men that came back from 
Northern prisons were ill and weak with no hope of the future. 
A few slaves remained faithful and to them should be a monu¬ 
ment erected for they had every temptation to plunder, burn and 
steal from the ones who had owned them. 

The freed slaves were untrained in managing their own 
affairs and fell into idleness and crime. The carpet-bagger and 
scalawag began exploiting the Negro vote. The white men were 
disfranchised and Federal troops took charge of the elections. 
Negroes in lines a half mile long were marched to the polls and 
voted and thus county and state officers were elected and then 



424 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


occurred an orgy of misrule and conduct which can never be 
forgotten. Homes were burned, assaults occurred and murders 
were committed and there was a panic never experienced, even 
when the Indians’ massacres threatened. 

Under stress of this situation there suddenly arose the, 
“Invisible Empire”. Both white and black were warned to 
change their way of doing and those who refused were punished. 
Jeff Long, Negro of Macon was made postmaster of that city 
and on a jury to decide the fate of some Klansmen arrested, 
there were eleven Negroes and one white man. All of the tra¬ 
verse jury were Negroes. 

Anyone interested in learning the real conditions in the 
South during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War 
should read the book, “The Tragic Era,” by Claud Bowers. 
Westbrook Pegler said in a daily column: “It does make a 
fellow sore to see what the Germans or Nazis have been doing 
to their captives, but a recent peek into an old Congressional 
document giving the minority report on the investigation of 
the original Ku Klux Klan reminds me that only 65 years and 
a few before that, we Americans of the Northern tier were 
doing pretty much the same thing to the people of the defeated 
and destitute South. We thought up more devilment to humiliate, 
persecute and rob those Southern people, a marvelously brave 
and durable foe in war, our own nation and personal kin, than 
any of us are likely to remember now, if we ever know.” 

“We sent among them some of the dirtest grafters and 
common thieves that the human race has ever produced, to its 
shame. Hitler himself couldn’t out clever some of the nasty and 
remorseless ingenuities by which we taxed their property away 
and sneered their human rights and civic rights out of existence. 
The wonder is, not that the Southern politician waved the 
bloody shirt as long as they did, but that the Southern people 
ever did have the bigness of soul to forgive, forget and cooper¬ 
ate again. It wasn’t only the awful, malicious brutality of what 
we did so much as the repulsive character of the swine whom 
our government selected to do it, all of them, incidentally, had 
good sound Anglo-Saxon or Aryan names, too.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


425 


Judge James B. Park of Greensboro, lived through the 
days of Reconstruction and he made this statement which I 
quote from the Herald-Journal written on July 29, 1941 : 
“When Sherman’s army left Atlanta, Ga. they came down the 
Ga. railroad through Madison, Ga. and burned the railroad 
bridge across the Oconee river and then came on down the west 
side of the river to where we lived, three miles south of the 
bridge. When the Yankees appeared my mother sent for an 
officer and told him that she was alone with several small chil¬ 
dren, that her husband was away and that he was a Mason, and 
that she would appreciate his kindness if he would see that she 
and the children were protected from the Federal soldiers. The 
officer stationed a guard at the front and back doors for three 
days as the soldiers were passing by and the family was not 
molested. The Federals did burn the three story mill on the 
river, stole all of the mules, horses, hogs, cows and provisions. 
For years afterwards we had little to eat except cornbread, fish 
and the few vegetables which we grew, sometimes a meat from 
a more fortunate neighbor and syrup. The only salt we had was 
filtered out of the dirt on the smokehouse floor. 

I have never wanted any cornbread since that time, as that 
was the main dish. When the mill burned the house also caught 
fire, but my mother got wet blankets and got them to the roof 
where a slave, old Cyrus smothered out every spark that caught. 

After the close of the war my father told Cyrus that he 
would give him a home on his place as long as he lived and 
that he would never suffer for anything. Once while my father 
was away Cyrus was arrested for vagrancy and locked up in 
Madison. My father reached home during the night after a 
long trip, but when he heard about Cyrus being in jail he rode 
fourteen miles horseback and went on Cyrus’s bond, and when 
the trial came up he made such a plea that the jury found him 
not guilty. I took care of Cyrus after my father’s death, and as 
long as he lived which was until 1907. Only two out of 100 
slaves left our plantation at freedom on Nov. 1864. I know that 
my father always treated his slaves with kindness and would 
never let the overseer mistreat them. 


426 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


In Greene Co. Ga. just as it was in all of the South after 
the war, ignorant ex-slaves filled the legislative halls of Geor¬ 
gia and were the tools with which the “Carpet-bag” Governor 
Bulloch and his henchmen used to fleece the State. 

Acts of Congress passed on March 2 and July 19, 1867 
read: “Until the admission of said state of Georgia, by law to 
representation in Congress and for this purpose the State of 
Georgia shall constitute the Third Military District.” 

The Court House Square was dotted with the tents of the 
army of occupation and the officers paid heed to such tales of 
woe as the recently freed slaves saw fit to tell on their former 
owners, and thus many vanquished foes were unjustly humiliated 
as a result of the fabricated lies told by some worthless Negro. 

In 1868 Georgia was restored to Statehood, but the State 
House Officers were a motley crew. Abe Colby, Negro, repre¬ 
sented Greene County; Bradley, a negro convict, was in the 
Senate and other similiar characters were considering claims of 
those who wanted to be elected to the United States Senate. The 
candidates to be considered were: Alex. H. Stephens, Joseph 
E. Brown, Joshua Hill, Foster Blodgett, A. K. Ackerman, J. L. 
Seward, H. G. Cole and Herschell V. Johnson. 

Rufus Bulloch was the “Carpet-bag” Governor and Abe 
Colby, Negro, offered again for re-election in Greene Co. but 
the white people had had enough and were determined to defeat 
him at any cost. All elections were held under the supervision 
of Federal Troops. The Negroes outnumbered the whites three 
to one and they were strong for Colby. The evening before the 
election was to be held, One Federal Officer and twelve Privates 
were sent to see that the Negroes went in office. These Federal 
soldiers were given a good supper, by the whites and a full 
understanding as to the program the next day. Each soldier was 
to take a good look at the candidate Colby and appear friendly 
to him, they were also to be gruff to the whites. A few near 
fights were staged. On election day this was carried out and ki 
the afternoon, two privates slipped out and went into a store 
and climbed out on the roof of the building that commanded a 
clear view of the courthouse, then they hid behind a parapet 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


427 


wall. In the event Colby was elected they were to kill Colby 
when the signal was given. However the election managers did 
some good counting of the votes and Colby was defeated, there¬ 
fore it was unnecessary for “Yankee” bullets to remove the 
ignorant and distasteful lawmaker. 

After Colby’s defeat his drinking and insolence led to his 
“Waterloo”. He insulted a lady on the streets of Greensboro 
and he was soundly thrashed and put on an out going train and 
told never to come back. No one ever saw him again. 

Every man who had a part in getting the government back 
in the hands of the white people are dead now and only two men 
who wore the gray are living here and they are in the nineties. 
(1941) 

The Yankees were quartered here until about 1872, and 
when at last the unwelcome guests departed people lifted up 
their eyes and souls to a better day, and knowing that a hun¬ 
dred years would pass ere the South could fully rise from the 
crushing blow of defeat and years of Reconstruction. 

Nothing will solidify a people like standing together 
against an invader and being beaten, for there is brotherhood 
in misery. The South cannot forget the Civil War, for it looks 
at us from Confederate monuments in every town and a hundred 
thousand tombstones, thousands of war books and the hotels 
and highways named for our Generals. Most homes have pre¬ 
served, grandfather’s sword or gun, or the cannon ball that was 
imbedded in the house, or letters written from the front during 
the heat of the war. 

After 1872 the Democrats got control and the Klan dis¬ 
banded. Georgia arose from the ashes of Sherman’s torch, and 
it has taken a hundred years to get on her feet again. 


428 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The following is a list of men who freed Greene County 
from the Carpetbag rule and guided the ship of State in 1868 
and they should never be forgotten by the people of the county: 


Col. M. W. Lewis 
Capt. L. B. Willis 
Judge Columbus Heard 
Dr. A. A. Jernigan 
Col. W. G. Johnson 
Col. Mark Johnson 
H. M. Burns 
L. B. Jackson 
Dr. T. P. Janes 
Capt. J. R. Sanders 
Greene Moore 
Col. N. J. Armor 
Col. R. H. Ward 

R. V. Forrester 

E. C. Alfred 

O. P. Daniel 
J. W. Jackson 

V. D. Gresham 

L. D. Carlton 
James Perkins 
Joseph Crawford 
Maj. Wm. Bacon 
C. C. Norton 

W. M. Weaver 

P. J. Tuggle 
James Armstrong 
Wm. O. Cheney 
J. M. Davison 

S. M. Echols 
J. F. Thornton 
H. M. King 
W. D. Jackson 

M. G. Lewis 

F. Hester 

W. Thompson 
Obediah Copeland 
Wm. Kimbrough 
J. B. Park 
J. F. Wright 
J. F. Zimmerman 


S. D. Durham 

Major John Swann 

Dr. W. L. M. Harris 

Dr. J. E. Walker 

C. J. Dougherty 

Dr. Wm. Morgan 

Capt. J. Neary 

Judge Wm. Cory 

W. G. Carlton 

H. H. Tucker 

J. T. Dawson 

W. G. Woofin 

S. P. Sanford 

J. E. Willett 

W. P. Davis 

H. P. Williams 

J. F. Hall 

John Palmer 

R. J. Dawson 

Julge Henry C. Weaver 

Capt. John Branch 

Maj. Billy Jackson 

Capt. J. M. Story 

Col. J. H. Seals 

Dr. J. M. Griffin 

G. E. Fluker 

W. T. Doster 

Dr. I. D. Moore 

W. Armstrong 

J. Preston 

Tohn E. Jackson 

E. F. Wheeler 

W. A. Partee 

W. A. Colclough 

Wm. Neal 

Wm. Bryant 

C. Hutchinson 
L. W. Lundy 

D. Leslie 

Judge L. S. Jackson 


(Following taken from early Greene County records filed in the library 
of Duke University) 

(Amnesty oath after Civil War): 

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 

I DO solemnly Swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will 
henceforth faithfully Support, Protect and Defend the Constitution of 
the United States and the union of the States there under, and that I 
will in like manner, abide by, and faithfully support all acts of Con- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


429 


gress passed during the late rebellion, with reference to Slaves, so 
long and so far as not repealed, modified or held void by Congress, or 
by decision of the Supreme Court; and that I will in like manner, 
abide by and faithfully support all Proclamations of the President, 
made during the late rebellion, having reference to Slaves, so long and 
so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme 
Court: SO HELP ME GOD. 


W. W. Merrell 
Atty at Law 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, at Newnan, Ga., this 17th day of 
June 1865. 


Sam J. McKee, Captn. 

Asst. Prov. Mar. C.C.M.D.M. 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


GEORGIA 

NEWTON COUNTY 

I do Solemnly Swear, or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, 
that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Con¬ 
stitution of the United States and the union of the States thereunder, 
and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws 
and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion 
with reference to the emancipation of slaves. SO HELP ME GOD. 

I. C. Cowan 

Sworn to and subscribed before me at Covington, Georgia this 25th 
day of August 1865. 

Wm. D. Suckie 
Ordinary 

I do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the. original oath 
administered by me to the foregoing deponent, the date and day 
above written. 


Wm, D. Suckie 
Ordinary 


Chapter XII 


LAWS, COURTS, BANKS, DUELS 

The first Superior Court convened in Greene County in 
January, 1790 and Judge George Walton (signer of the Dec¬ 
laration of Independence) presided. He and Judge Henry Os- 
burn constituted the Georgia Supreme Court at that time and 
they met here to formulate rules and regulations for the pro¬ 
cedures for all courts of Georgia. 

Greene County was then located in the Northern Circuit 
and so remained until Dec. 7, 1807. Judges succeeding Judge 
Walton were: Henry Osburn, Thomas P. Carnes, John Grif¬ 
fin, Charles Tait and Peter Skrine. Osburn preceded Walton 
and Griffin only served a short time. 

The Ocmulgee Circuit was formed on Dec. 7, 1807 and 
Peter Early was the first Judge. Those who succeeded him 
were: Stephen Willis Harris, Christopher B. Strong, Augustus 
Baldwin Longstreet, Owen H. Kenen, Eli S. Shorter, Thomas 
W. Cobb, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, John G. Polhill, Adam G. Saf- 
fold, Edward Young Hill, Francis Hiram Cone, William Crosby 
Dawson, James A. Merriwether, Herschell V. Johnson, Hiram 
F. Cone (2nd term) Robert Vines Hardeman, Iverson Louis 
Harris, Augustus Reese, Nathaniel Greene Foster, Phillip B. 
Robinson, George T. Bartlett, Thomas Graves Lawson, Wil¬ 
liam Franklin Jenkins, John Collier Hart, Frederick C. Foster, 
Hugh Graham Lewis, James Billingslea Park, 1911-1939, 
Joseph B. Jackson, George Carpenter. 

Prior to 1877 all Judges of the Superior Courts of Ga. 
were appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. 
The Constitution of 1877, known as the Robert Toombs Con¬ 
stitution, the method of selecting Judges was changed and the 
Legislature selected the Judges. In 1897 by Act of the Legis¬ 
lature the mode of election was transferred to the people. This 
may or may not be a wise provision, as any shyster lawyer may 
aspire to the office and if he has the friendship of law breakers, 
racketeers and bootleggers there is a danger of the courts fall¬ 
ing into the hands of a dangerous man. 


430 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


431 


Among some of the lawyers of Greene County were. 
Judge Henry T. Lewis, James B. Park, Sr. and Jr., James L. 
Brown, Sr., Edward Young, George Merritt, Miles W. Lewis, 
Joseph P. Brown, Noel P. Park, James Davison, J. S. Callo¬ 
way and Columbus Heard. 

In the year 1811 the county fully realized the necessity ot 
re-establishing the records of the courts and asked the legis¬ 
lature to pass an act authorizing the court to revise and rewrite 
her records up to that time. A contract was entered into be¬ 
tween the Inferior Court and Benjamin Jourdan to transcribe 
the records still in existence. This contract was witnessed by 
Ebenezer Torrance. You would be impressed by the beautiful 
handwriting up to the year 1811 and would note that the same 
person did all of the writing. 

Benjamin Jourdan was convicted of murder and served 
his sentence in jail at Greensboro and while in jail transcribed 
most of these records. This work must have taken years, and 
many books now may be found both of the Inferior and Superi¬ 
or Courts and Deed Books in Jourdan’s beautiful writing. The 
last date seems to be 1819 and there is no record of what be¬ 
came of Jourdan. Some believe that he served out his life in 
prison, but from others sources he seems to have been freed 
after completion of his task. These books were bound and for 
the first time the scattered records of Greene Co. (after three 
fires) were preserved for posterity. The men assigned to see 
that Jourdan’s work was accurate, and according to the contract 
drawn up by the County were: John Sorrell, A. Heard, Pressley 
Watts. 

These men practiced law in the courts of Greene Co. 
simultaneously; John Clark (later Gov.), John Griffin, Charles 
Tait, Peter Early, Charles, Micajah and Peter Williamson and 
many others. Bitter tilts often occurred. In Sept. 1803 the court 
was presided over by Judge John Griffin, brother-in-law of 
John Clark. Judge Griffin died and Charles Tait not only suc¬ 
ceeded him but married his widow, becoming a brother-in-law 
of John Clark. Later L. Q. C. Lamar, a nephew by marriage 
of Clark’s, became Judge. 


432 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


John Clark horse-whipped Charles Tait on the streets of 
Milledgeville, the Capitol. The origin of the quarrel between 
John Clark and Charles Tait originated in Greensboro court. 
The feud went on and finally they fought a duel in which Craw¬ 
ford was severely wounded. 

The court records show that John Clark was indicted 
with Hugh McCall and Hugh Buckner for rioting in Greene 
County and were heavily fined when William Stitch, Jr. was 
the presiding Judge. (Vol. 1 Minutes of Superior Court pp. 
165, 167, Dept. Term 1794. 

In order to serve on the juries in that day, a man had to 
be a citizen of good repute, a free holder and a man of some 
reputation with some education. Men of disrepute or those who 
had been tried and convicted of crime, were never drawn on 
juries, nor were their names allowed to be put in the jury box. 

COURTS AND LAW 

The Legislative Act that created the county authorized the 
building of a courthouse and a jail. These were wooden build¬ 
ings and soon were not adequate and were replaced by more 
substantial buildings. In 1806 a rock jail was built twenty-eight 
feet square and twenty-five feet high, which stands today (see 
picture). Here hangings were public affairs and the old grue¬ 
some gallows took many lives. 

In 1795 duelling was common, stocks were used for punish¬ 
ment and gambling and card playing at public meetings were 
condemned. 

In about 1801-6 when the threat of Indian raids subsided, 
the settlers found time for some sports such as horse-racing, 
wrestling, chicken fighting and shooting matches. The first Club 
organized was the Greensboro Jockey Club, already function¬ 
ing by 1800. 

The Bethesda Baptist church objected to horse-racing and 
brought charges against members for abetting this ungodly 
practice. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


433 



The last legal ducking in Georgia was ordered in Greene County about 1813 by Judge of the 
Ocmulgee circuit, Peter Early. The verdict, she was a scold and gossip. 









434 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Time passed on and from one room dirt floor cabins and 
Indian raids, forts and land-grabbing, duels and hangings we 
come to better homes, schools and churches. 

The first court that we can find any record of is recorded 
in Book A. Vol. 1. of Greene Superior Court, which convened 
on Monday Jan. 11, 1790, and was presided over by Judges H. 
Osborne and George Walton, (signer of the Declaration of 
Independence) There seemed to be only three judicial circuits 
at that time; the Eastern, Middle and Western. The Western 
Circuit was composed of Greene, Jackson, Franklin, Hancock, 
Oglethorpe, Elbert, Wilkes and Lincoln counties. 

Judge George Walton was the first Judge to serve on the 
Western Circuit. The records of the Greene county Superior 
Court show the following Judges serving up to the time that 
the Ocmulgee Circuit was formed in 1807, George Walton, H. 
Osborne, William Stith, Jr. Judge Taliaferro, Judge Carnes, 
D. B. Mitchell, Judge Griffin, Judge Tait, Benjamin Shr ; ne and 
Judge Stephens. Judge Tait held the last court held under the 
old Western Circuit. 

Judge Peter Early’s term began Jan. 1, 1808, and he held 
his first court in Greensboro in March 1808, continuing through 
an adjourned term which continued through the 16th of Dec. 
1812. 

An early record of court shows that Historian Hugh Mc¬ 
Call, John Clark and his father Gen. Elijah Clark were in¬ 
dicted in Greensboro for riot, and Elijah disliked Jonas Fauche 
and his troops for helping to destroy his Trans-Oconee-Republic. 
It is said that the Clark’s and McCall always thought and 
spoke of Greensboro like the southerner who coined the word, 
“Damyankee”. 


CRIME 

“Gone to Texas”, was frequently heard when court con¬ 
vened in Greene, and other counties in Georgia, as well as in 
other states, a few generations back. Back in her early days, 
Texas was a refuge for law violators, and had it not been for 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


435 


her refugees, she might never have gained her independence 
from Mexico. 

This does not mean that all of the early settlers of that 
wonderful state were fugitives from justice. In fact, only a 
small percent of her pioneers were of that class. But on account 
of the vastness of her territory, and the spirit of adventure 
that gripped the lives of the young men a hundred years ago, 
the slightest excuse would cause them to turn their faces to the 
west. 

Greene county furnished her quota of young men to help 
free that vast empire from tyrannical misrule, and many of her 
sons lie buried in unmarked graves along the Brazos, Colorado, 
Trinity, and other rivers along which, were fought the battles 
that won fame for Houston, Austin, Jack, Archer, Fannin, 
Williamson, and hundreds of others, whose fame will last as 
long as the state of Texas will last. 

The Alamo and San Jocinta, are holy shrines to every 
Texan, and Greene County blood flowed freely at both of these. 
Therefore, whatever indiscretion, that caused these men to 
turn their faces westward, should be freely forgiven. 

Unfortunately, when the war between Texas and Mexico 
ended, many of the bad men from other states congregated in 
one section. Naturally, they reverted into their old habits of 
lawlessness, and it is from this element that the state gained 
her reputation for harboring criminals. 

The situation became so acute, that the law-abiding people 
of that section appealed to the Governor for relief. And set 
forth in their plea, that outlawry was so bad, that even the 
court was intimidated. And that the outlaws had said—that no 
court should be held in that county. The Governor accepted the 
challenge, and appointed a judge whom he knew feared nothing. 

The Governor’s action, aroused the ire of the outlaws and 
the “shyster” lawyers whom they had hired to defend them, and 
when the judge ordered the Sheriff to open the court; one of 
these lawyers arose, asked the privilege of reading some reso¬ 
lutions that had been drawn by the people of that county. His 


436 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


request was granted, and he proceeded to set forth the fact 
that, the people of the county were capable of managing their 
own affairs, and they did not appreciate the Governors’ inter¬ 
ference by sending an outside judge to hold court. And that 
they did not intend that he should preside over their affairs. 

The judge asked the lawyer to cite some section of the 
code of Texas that would justify such action on the part of the 
people of any section. Whereupon, the lawyer held up a dirk, 
and said, “This is the law of this section.” The judge reached 
under his desk, and drew out a long six-shooter, and after aim¬ 
ing it at the most vital part of the objector, said, “This is the 
constitution. And I hope there will be no conflict between the 
law and the constitution, Mr. Sheriff, you will proceed with 
the opening of this court.” 

The record shows that the court did convene, and con¬ 
tinued until the docket was cleared. And that many murderers 
were convicted and executed. Tradition says that some friend 
or relative of one of the men who was being tried, took offence 
at the judges’ ruling on some point, and emphasized his atti¬ 
tude by trying to assassinate the judge while he was on the 
bench. His aim was bad however, and he shot the judge through 
the arm. Whereupon, the Judge brought his own six-shooter 
into action, and shot the objector down, and ordered the Sheriff 
to restore order in the court room, and proceed with the bus¬ 
iness of the court. 

This incident was recited in a speech by Judge Clark of 
Waco some years ago, in presenting a portrait of this famous 
Judge, at a joint meeting of the Senate and House of Represen¬ 
tatives at Austin, Texas. The purpose of this joint meeting was- 
to honor the man who was chairman of the convention that 
declared war on Mexico, and who was a member of the Texas 
Senate throughout the period that she was a Republic, and 
who presided over her State and Supreme courts. He figured 
largely in formulating the terms under which, Texas became 
one of the states of the Union. 

This man was a Georgian, and while he may never have 
been a citizen of Greene county; his father owned thousands 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


437 


of acres of land along Shoulderbone creek, when Greene county 
extended below Milledgeville. 

I have on my desk, a letter from Houston, Texas dated 
July 27,1931, enclosing a clipping from a newspaper published 
in that city, recounting some of the activities of a “cattle-king” 
of Texas, who had passed away in recent years. The letter 
stated that, he had heard that this “cattle-king” was a former 
citizen of Greene county, and that he left here “between suns”. 
I have heard the same thing about the same individual many 
times. But-since he seems to have made a name for himself in 
“the Lone-Star-State,” I fail to see the need of bringing the old 
“skeleton” out of the closet in Greene county, to scare his 
children and grand-children, who are in no way to blame for 
their ancestors’ indiscretion. 


INFERIOR COURT RECORDS IN 1861 
By T. B. Rice. 

After the Confederate States denied Allegiance to the 
United States Government and organized the Confederate 
States of America, with Montgomery, Alabama, as its Capitol; 
all legal forms both state and county were changed so as to read 
as follows: 

Georgia 
Greene County 

“To the Court of Ordinary of said county; 

The petition of John Robins respectfully showeth, 

States of America, with Montgomery, Alabama, as its Capital; 
that he is a citizen of the Confederate States of 
America, residing in the State of Georgia, of lawful 
age, etc.” 

This seems to be the first prologue of this kind 
that appears in the records of Greene County. 

(Taken from old Greene County Records filed in the Library of Duke 
University) 


438 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Greene County, Georgia 
Practice of Law and Physic-1822 


Cobb, Thomas W. 

Dawson, Wm. C. 

Early, Joel 
Foster, James F. 

Foster, Thomas F. 

King, Yelverton P. 

Longstreet, Augustus B. 

Matthews, George G. 

Pierce, Lovick 

1801-Doctors (as shown by digests 

too.) 

Owin, Thomas, Dr. 

Strain, Wm. W., Dr. 

Clinger, George. Dr. 

Nesbit, James, Dr. 

Largest Taxpayers in Greene Co. 

Stewart, Allen 
Grimes, William 
Nesbitt, James 
McAllister, Tohn 
Spruce, William 
Phillips, Joseph 


Ponds, Asa 
Watkins, George 
Wingfield, Thomas 
Coleman, Allen 
Durham, Lindsey 
Saffold, Seaborn 
Janes, Thomas G. 

Linton, Alexander B. 

McKinley, Archibald 

must include persons who sell herbs 


Sankey, John T., Dr. 
Jenkins, Jesse, Dr. 
Gresham, Young 

in 1801. 

Dawson, George 
Greene, William 
Thornton, Redmon 
Melton, William 
Early, Peter 
Early, Joel 


Appendix 


Slave Owners Who Owned Twenty or More Slaves in 1854 (Taken from 
the Old Greene Co. Records filed at the Duke University Library.) 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

137 

Bolls, Jackson—28 
Daniels, Wm.—26 
English, Henry (Minors'!—25 
Hamilton. Thos. N.—43 
Tuggle, Wm.—36 
Williams, Jas. B.—24 

138 

Carlton, James—46 
Davison, Jas. M.—22 
Edmondson, Wm.—30 
Tarpley, Archibald—20 

140 

Carlton, R. G.—20 
Heard, Wm.—24 
Mitchell, Hugh C.—24 
Randall, C. N.—21 


Tuggle, Wm.—43 
Thornton, V. R.—46 
Houghton, L. B.—29 
Thornton, Jas. A.—23 

141 

Corry, Wm. A.—44 
Carlton, L. D.—37 
Dunn, Elizabeth—28 
Houghton, Mary F.—31 
Houghton, Ann R.—25 
King, Alexander—26 
Perkins, Abraham—38 
Walker, Frances C.—48 

142 

Stephen, Jackson—42 
Tackson, Jas. W.—64 
Walker, Lewis—22 
Merrett, Lavett—27 
Williamson, Thos. G.—42 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


439 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

143 

Cunningham, John—25 
Cone, T. H.—26 
Carlton, Archbiald—39 
Colt, Mrs. Mary—34 
Dawson, Geo.—20 
Early, Joel (dec’d)— 63 
Dawson, R. J.—27 
James, L. R. (dec’d)—20 
Davis, Samuel—33 
Daniel, O. T.—76 

143 

Dawson, Wm. C.—63 
Foster, Dr. Jas. F.—75 
Gresham, T. H. R. (minors)—26 
Hart, Thos.—20 
Jackson, John E.—40 
Moore, Greene—54 
McHenry, Jas. (dec’d)—21 
Perdue, Daniel—33 
Poullain, T. N. Gen.—133 
Sagers, David—33 
Strain, Wm. L.—27 
Colby, John (dec’d)—40 
Sweet, Jas.- F.—23 
Nicholson, Jas. B.—47 
Terrell, David Y.—32 
Terrell, Rebecca W.—30 
Weaner, Wm. D. W.—64 
Willis, London—25 

Slaves Owners Who Owned Fifteen 
the Old Greene Co. Records filed at the 

148 

Andrews, L. L.—24 
Brown, Valentine—30 
Colcoughjohn—35 
Cheney, Catherine—21 
Davant, James—52 
Greens, Lemuel—28 
Janes, Dr. T. P.—54 
McWhorter, R. L.—54 
Porter, John W. (Adm.) 

Porter, A. J.—22 
Sanders, Jas. R.—35 
Minors of A. Janes—58 
Sanders, Mrs. B. W.—36 
Robinson, Phillip—25 
Williams, Nancy—22 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

144 

Alfriend, E. D.—41 
Jarrel, Reddin—35 
Jarrel, E. P.—33 
Moore, Jas.—53 

145 

Crawford, Winton—21 
Copeland, Baldwin—60 
Catchings, Joseph—60 
Jordan, B. T.—47 
Martin, George—36 
Perkins, James—27 
Terrell, Wm.—26 
Varner, J. W. & W. F.—26 
Watson, D. C.—29 

146 

Branch, John—51 
Broughton, John F.—64 
Ellington, Wm. B. (dec’d)—52 
Malone, Thompson—37 
Stocks, Thomas—Trustee 
for Elizabeth Sanders—37 
Lesmos, Orphans—25 
Willis, R. J.—102 

147 

Anderson, Stewart—38 
Fambrough, T. M.—22 
Daniel, T. B.—51 
Barrow, D. C.—50 
Watson, John—26 

or More Slaves in 1854 (Taken fr( m 
Duke University Library.) 

149 

Bishop, Willson S.—30 
Durham, Linsey—25 
Peoples, B. M. & R. P.—39 
Stovall, P. W.—39 
Sweneys, Wm. H.—46 
Thompson, Thomas—42 
Wray, Thomas—90 

160 

Copelan, John—39 
Barnhart, John—36 
Hightower, Wm.—27 
Smith, John—36 
Walker, Henry—21 
Minors of R. T. Park—70 


440 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

161 

Armor, R. B.—27 
Armor, Jas. N.—41 
Armor, Wm.—23 
Tripp, H. W.—25 
Curtwright, John—42 
Kimbrough, J. W.—27 
Ward, R. H.—45 

162 

Bryan, Wm. 

Jackson, Nancy Mrs.—23 
Rowland, Jas. J.—21 
Rowland, Wm.—45 
Smith, Gen. Jas. —30 
Turner, Archibald-21 

163 

Champion, J. W.—74 
Hall, Hugh—38 
Hall, John—31 
Hutcheson, Ambrose—47 
Jackson, L. B.—29 
Minors of Wm. Bickers—21 
Leslie, David—26 
Merritt, Thos. Gen.—44 
Robins, John B.—29 
Rowland, James—26 
Walker, G. R.—37 

143 

Alford, Julius—15 
Beatie, John—18 
Collier, Thomas—24 
Cobb, Thomas W.—51 
Cunningham, John—28 
Dawson, George—27 
Dillard, Georgie—28 
Grimes, Wm.—40 
Jones, Albert—25 
Grimes, Thomas—44 
Greer, Thomas—30 
Greenwood, Thomas—39 
Houghton, John—34 
Hart, Thomas—21 
Love, John—35 
Ligon, Thomas—53 
Lewis, Nicholas—73 
Longstreet, Augustus B.—30 
Macon, Edwin H. —25 
Park, Ezekiel E.—22 
Randall, James G.—21 
Sanford, Henry—19 
Robinson, James—26 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

Sanford, D. B.—15 
Torrence, Ebenezer—15 
Todd, Am. W.—40 
Terrell, David—29 
Terrell, Thomas—58 
Woodruff, James—55 
Watkins, George—29 
Williams, Peter—18 
Wingfield, Thos.—20 

145 

Foster, Arthur—16 
149 

Gillum, Robert—16 
Crawford, Thomas—17 
Garrett, John—22 
Garrett, Thomas—18 
Sherwood, Adiel—44 
Stovall, Mary—19 
Thornton, Reuben—88* 

*42 of these in Wilkinson Co. 

147 

Allen, Drury—18 
Daniel, James—41 
Daniel, Samuel—16 
Harper, Samuel—19 
Moore, Barnett—19 
Porter, Oliver—30 
Watson, Wm.—28 
Watson, Joseph—31 

146 

Broughton, John H. —34 
Boner, Wm. H.—16 
Branch, Wm. S.—28 
Gresham, Archibald—16 
Greer, Thomas—18 
Heard, Woodson—27 
Heard, George—29 
Jenkins, John—15 
Mills, John—29 
Nickelson, George—17 
Pinchard, Thomas—27 
Price, Ephrim—75 
Rabun, Hannah R.—16 
Stocks, Thomas—15 
Winston, Thomas—64 
Wright, Robert—62 

148 

Bradshaw, Ezekiel—16 
Christmas, Mary Anne—15 
Conyers, Ross—16 
Fuller, Elisha—23 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


441 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

Greer, Abraham—24 
Haralson, Jonathan—16 
Lee, Wm.—22 
McCoy, Henry—15 
Montford, John—22 
Mosley, Thomas—49 
Reed, Wm.—26 
Thomas, W.—20 
Safford, Seaborn—16 
West, Francis—18 
Wilkinson, Sherwood—26 

138 

Bunch, Austin—15 
Swanson, Grace—17 
Tuggle, George—31 

140 

Asbury, Richard—55 
Daniel, Hannah—16 
Bedell, Isaac—16 
Green. Ruch—17 
Myrick, John—15 
Andrews, Nancy—54 
Watson, Douglas—25 

137 

Atkinson, Armstead—41 
Bird, Williams—26 
Daniel, James—16 
Grant, Daniel—25 
Janes, Absalom—15 
Roberts, John G.—22 
Towns, Drury—15 

139 

Cololough, William—17 
Murden, Malichi—16 
Lyne, Thomas (est.)—18 
O’Neal, Wooten—18 

141 

Greer, Thomas—15 
Houghton, Joshua—36 
King, Alexander—18 
King, Curtis—22 
King, William—28 
Powers, John—21 


Militia District 
Name and No. Slaves 

144 

Alford, Collin—38 
Colt, John—20 
Grimes, Thomas—68 
Hall, John—20 
Peek, James—18 
142 

Love, Josephus—22 
Maddox, Claiborn—19 

163 

Colby, John—30 
Colquett, Thos.—16 
Foster, Geo. W.—36 
Hutcheson, Ambrose—15 
Jackson, Davis—16 
Mitchell, Jacob—27 
Mitchell, Isaac—15 
Phillips, Georgia—15 
Rogers, Henry—15 
Rea, Robert—17 
Stoutamin, Newell—15 
Sager, Ann—16 

160 

Copeland, Gracy—16 
Lawrence, Abraham, L.—33 
Scott, Henry F.—18 
Turner, John—29 
Williams, Duke A,.—15 

162 

Brown, Ezekiel—22 
Howell, Nathaniel—22 
Wagnon, Adniel—18 
Ward, Jonathan—15 

161 

Armor, William—23 
Brown, Reuben—29 
Cunningham, Thomas—31 
Holt, William—22 
Park, James—41 
Perry, Green—28 
Peek, Robert—25 


442 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WHEN THE WAR CLOUDS HOVERED OVER GREENE COUNTY 

By T. B. Rice 

Perhaps, no clearer picture of the attitude of the people of the county 
toward the welfare of her boys who had gone to war, than is found in the 
Minute Books of the Greene Inferior Court. Up to April 26, 1861, the Inferior 
Court devoted its attention to such routine matters as probating will, ap¬ 
pointing guardians, looking after roads, ferries and bridges just as their pre¬ 
decessors had done since the birth of the county. However, the “Call to Arms” 
brought forth the following Resolution: 

Greensboro, Ga. April 26, 1861 


“Court met; 

Present, 

John F. Zimmerman 
H. C. Weaver 
W. G. Johnson. 

“In accordance with a Resolution unanimously adopted at a large 
meeting of the Citizens of Greene County held this day in the Court 
House requesting this Court to take some action to relieve the neces¬ 
sities of the families of indigent Volunteers in Companies now raised 
or hereafter to be raised in said County, and also to aid in equipping 
said indigent Volunteers. 

It is hereby ordered by this Court that the Clerk issue Bonds 
to the amount of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS in sums of not 
less than ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS nor more than FIVE 
HUNDRED DOLLARS each, one half payable first of January 
1862, and one half payable January 1, 1863, bearing interest at 7 
per cent per annum; said Bonds to be signed by the Clerk, and filed 
in his office subject to the order of this Court. 

Ordered also that Rev’d H. H. Tucker, William B. Johnson and 
John G. Holtzclaw bei appointed a disbursing committee to disburse 
the funds which may be from time to time placed in their hands 
for the benefit of needy members of the “Dawson Grays.” 

Ordered also that Thomas N. Poullain, William L. Strain and 
John E. Jackson be appointed for the same purpose in relation to the 
“Greene Rifles.” 

Ordered also that Yelverton P. King, David Howell and Charles 
A. Davis be appointed for the same purpose in relation to the “Ste¬ 
phens Light Guards.” 

It is further ordered that the sum of FIVE HUNDRED DOL¬ 
LARS be appropriated for each of the Volunteer Companies in 
this County which are ordered into service, or which may hereafter 
be organized and ordered into service for outfit, and that the same be 
placed in the hands of the several committees.” 

Ford. 

Following after and in connection with the above orders, appears the 
following: 

“We, the undersigned hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors 
and administrators to become security to the Bond holders for the 
payment of the before mentioned sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOL- 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


443 


LARS, said Bonds when issued by the Clerk in accordance with the 
foregoing order to be numbered and recorded in this book.” 

Here, the following signatures appear, not merely the written names, but 
the genuine signatures of patriotic citizens, most of whom were too old to be 
subject to military duty: 

Y. P. King, John A. Curtwright, J. K. Perkins, W. A. Florence, W. H. 
Blythe, W. H. McWorther, J. W. T. Catchings, William W. D. Weaver, 
John E. Jackson, Thomas Stocks, J. P. Harris, H. G. Moore, John C. Mer¬ 
ritt, W. L. Strain, Samuel R. Walker, William T, Merritt, William Rowland, 
Sr., David Leslie, J. N. Copelan, John G. Holtzclaw, John Robins, Wm. S. 
Jackson, William N. Williams, Willaim A,rmor, John G. Oliver, Thomas H. 
Smith, A. A. Jernigan, R. C. Bowden, Geo. O. Dawson, James N. Armor, 
W. B. Johnson, E. C. Bowden, H. H. Tucker, M. W. Lewis, T. N. Poullain, 
Jr. 

Wilkinson & Fargo paid $5,000,00 for the Bonds; and the three Com¬ 
panies named-Dawson Grays, Greene Rifles and Stephens Light Guards-re- 
ceived $3,000.00 from the committees appointed to disburse the funds. Other 
Bonds to the amount of $2,000.00 were issued. 

This latter issue was in denominations of $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00, and, 
the presumption is that they were bought by local citizens. 

On September 20, 1861, the Inferior Court issued the following order: 

“It appearing to the Court that two members of the committee appointed 
to attend to suffering the necessities of life to the indigent families of the 
Stephens Light Guards-It is therefore ordered that James F. Hall and 
Charles A. Vincent be, & they are hereby appointed, to act in connection 
with Col. Y. P. King as a committee for the above named purpose. 

The committee is authorized to furnish said indigent families, with 
Bacon or Beef or other fresh meats, corn meal or flous, & in case of sick¬ 
ness sugar & coffee, or tea. The Clerk will serve each committman with a 
copy of this order. 

Signed; Isaac R. Hall, Clerk. 

On November 12, 1861, the following order was issued: 

“Ordered by the Court that, the Clerk, issue a County Bond for 
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, payable to James F. Hall or order, 
to defray his expenses to and from Virginia, to carry clothing and 
other supplies to the Greene Rifles.” 

JUDGE SAMUEL H. SIBLEY 

In addition to the great number of Judges of the Superior 
and Supreme Courts of the State, Greene County furnished 
Judge Samuel H. Sibley of the United States District Court of 
Appeals. Judge Sibley served as United States Federal Court 
Judge for the Northern District of Georgia for a number of 
years; and was promoted to the U. S. Court of Appeals with 
headquarters in New Orleans. 

It has been said by good authority, that no decision of 
Judge Sibley had been reversed by the higher courts during his 
long career as U. S. Judge. 


444 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Judge Sibley was prominently mentioned for a place on the 
bench of the United States Supreme Court; and if he lives a 
few years longer, no doubt that honor will come to him. Judge 
Sibley will go down in history as one of the greatest lawyers 
and Judges of the United States. 1941). 

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1789. 

This convention was held in Augusta and was presided 
over by William Gibbons, President, and D. Longstreet, Sec¬ 
retary. 

The personnel of this convention is not shown; but section 
5, shows that members of the house of representatives shall be 
elected annually, on the first Monday in October, and shall be 
composed of members from each county, in the following pro¬ 
portions : 

1. Camden, two; 

2. Glynn, two 

3. Liberty, four 

4. Chatham, five; 

5. Effingham, two; 

6. Burke, four 

7. Richmond, four 

8. Wilkes, five; 

9. Washington, two; 

10. Greene, two;; 

11. Franklin, two. 

Of these 11 counties, Washington, Franklin and Greene 
were the younger, and Greene the youngest. 

Washington and Franklin were created in 1784; and 
Greene was formed out of the northern portion of Washington 
in 1786. 

The first eight named counties were created under one act, 
in 1777, during the Revolution, Wilkes was named first, and in 
this way claims to have been the first county created in Georgia. 

The eleven counties name above, included all of civilized 
Georgia, the rest of the state was held by the Indians under 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


445 


Treaties, except, the territory around what is now Natchez, 
Miss., and at their request, the County of Bourbon was created. 
This county included all of what is now Alabama and Georgia, 
the largest county ever created. However, both France and 
Spain claimed that Georgia had infringed upon their territory, 
and in consequence of this complication Georgia recinded the 
act creating Bourbon County and turned the territory over to 
“Uncle Sam”. This became known as “The Mississippi Terri¬ 
tory.” 

General Elijah Clark espoused the cause of France, held a 
Commission as General under the French government at a sal¬ 
ary of $10,000, per annum, and invaded Florida and West Flor¬ 
ida- During his campaign he conceived the idea of establishing a 
Republic in the Indian lands west of the Oconee River, that 
became known as “Clark’s Trans-Oconee Republic.” 


GEORGIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 
OF 1798 

The delegates appointed to the counties of Georgia were 
as follows: 

1. Camden, two; 2. Glynn, two; 3. Liberty, four; 4. Mc¬ 
Intosh, two; 5. Bryan, two; 6. Chatham, four; 7. Effingham, 
two; 8. Scriven, two; 9. Montgomery, two; 10. Burke, three; 
11. Richmond, two; 12. Columbia, two; 13. Wilkes, three; 
14. Elbert, two; 15. Franklin, two; 16. Oglethorpe, three; 
17. Greene, three; 18. Hancock, three; 19. Washington, three; 
20. Warren, three. 

This convention was held at Louisville on May 13, 1798, 
and in the twenty-second year of the Independence of the United 
States of America. 


Signed by, Jared Irwin, President. 
Attested by, James M. Simmons, Secretary. 


446 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


The names of the delegates from the various counties are 
not given in Watkin’s Digest of Georgia Laws. 

John Gorham; 

Middleton Woods; 

Neil Cleveland, Esq. 

Certified to by, Jesse Walton, 

Peter Williamson. 

There is a notation to the effect that Jonas Fauche of 
Greene County, introduced a resolution covering section 8, in 
article III, that was adopted by the convention. Jonas Fauche 
and Davis Gresham were both members of the Legislature at 
that time; and Nathaniel Christmas was a citizen of Greene 
County as early as 1791, therefore, in all probability, these 
three constituted the Greene County delegation. 

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS OF 1788-9. 

Robert Christmas was a member of the Constitutional Con¬ 
vention that met in Augusta in 1788; but the record does not 
show where he was from. 

“Smith’s Georgia”, p. 119. 


The 1795 Convention. 

The Greene County delegates to the 1795 Convention 
were: David (Davis) Gresham; Phil Hunter; William Fitz¬ 
patrick. 

William Fitzpatrick was the father of Benjamin Fitzpat¬ 
rick, who was the most distinguished Southerner of his day. 
He moved to Alabama when that state was organized; and 
some years later, he declined the nomination for the presidency 
of the United States. 


The 1798 Convention. 

The Greene County delegates to this Convention were: 
George W. Foster; Jonas Fauche; James Nisbit. 




HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


447 


All of them were distinguished men, and lived in Greens¬ 
boro. This, and previous conventions denied the right of min¬ 
isters to serve on the Legislature. 


Jonas Fauche and Davis Gresham both became involved 
in what was known as “The Yazoo Fraud,” and were severely 
criticised. Fauche was an impetuous Frenchman and could not 
stand criticism, so he challenged his accuser and fought a duel, 
in Greensboro, that resulted in the death of his opponent, and 
he too, was wounded. Fauche died in Greensboro in 1835; and 
lived in the home now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. David¬ 
son. 


Referring to ministers of the Gospel not being allowed to 
serve in the Legislature, the records show that they did much 
lobbying, and due to their powerful influence and presence, 
John Clark‘s powerful political machine was destroyed when 
Thomas Stocks, President of the Senate, voted off the tie that 
elected George M. Troup, Governor of Georgia. This was in 
the early 1820’s. The records show that the Baptists and Meth¬ 
odists forgot their bitter hatred for each other, clasped arms 
and shouted when Stock’s vote was cast; and that the shouting 
shook the walls of the old Capitol at Milledgeville. Mathew 
Talbot was the candidate who opposed Troup; but he repre¬ 
sented the Clark party, therefore, this good man met defeat 
simply because he ran with the wrong crowd. 

HISTORICAL TID-BITS GLEANED FROM 
OLD RECORDS 

Commissioners for the various militia districts were ap¬ 
pointed each year; and these commissioners looked after the 
roads and bridges in their respective districts. Almost with¬ 
out exception, whenever there was a request for a new road, 
land owners tendered the right of way free of charge. When 
it was necessary to build a bridge bids were advertised by post¬ 
ing a notice on the bulletin board in front of the Court House, 
and in order to secure a good job, the successful bidder had to 




448 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


give bond guaranteeing the bridge for seven years. Ferries and 
flats were numerous and expensive to operate. Flats had to be 
renewed every two years; and the average cost of flats was 
$150.00 The operation of ferries was let by contract and the 
average price paid by the county was $150.00 per annum. This 
was after ferries were made free to citizens of the county, but 
non-residents had to pay. The presumption is that the ferryman 
was entitled to ferry fees collected from non-residents. 

In January 1859, a new board of commissioners make 
their appearance under the following order issued by the Jus¬ 
tices of the Inferior Court: 


“Ordered by the Court that the following named persons be and 
are hereby appointed PATROL COMMISSIONERS for the year 
1859: 


137th Dist. Alias B. Moody, William Daniel and T. W. Watts; 

138th Dist. William Edmondson, J. M. Cox and W. R. Wilson; 

140th Dist. Hugh Mitchell, William Heard and James A. Thornton; 
141st Dist. Wm. A. Moore, Isaac Williams and S. P. Arnold. 

142nd Dist. Miles Lewis, Wm. D. Jackson and John C. Merritt; 

143rd Dist. Wm. L. Strain, J. E. Jackson and Greene Moore; 

144th Dist. S. Jernigan, James Moore and B. C. Alfriend; 

145th Dist. Hinton Crawford, James Perkins and W. D. Maddox; 
146th Dist. John T. Broughton, Thompson Malone and W. W. Mayo; 
147th Dist. James T. Finley, John Colclough and Lindsey Jacks; 
148th Dist. Thomas P. Janes, James L. Tarwater and W. N. Williams; 

149th Dist. Moses F. Foster, William Neal and R. Peoples; 

160th Dist. William Hudson, Wm. F. Thompson and A. Kimbrough; 

161st Dist. Col. R. H. Ward, Col. J. N. Armour and James M. Kelly; 

162nd Dist. L. W. Lundy, R. A. Credelle and James Smith; 

163rd Dist. John Robins, J. F. Wright and James J. Rowland. 

The duties of these men are not defined, and no report of their 
activities appear in the minutes. All of them were men of highest 
type, therefore, they must have served a useful purpose. 


Another New Board 

On January 10, 1859 

The Justices of the Greene Inferior Court issued the following 
order: 

“Ordered that Rev. Homer Hendee, Rev. H. H. Tucker and Col. 
R. H. Ward be and they are hereby appointed a board of examiners, 
to examine and decide upon the qualifications of teachers who may 
apply under the law passed Dec. 11, 1858 known and designated as 
the Educational bill. And that said board of examiners be required to 
take the oath prescribed by law before entering upon their duties. And 
that the Clerk cause each member of said board to be served with 
a copy of this order.” 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


449 


Greene County Takes her own Census in 1856 
The Justices of the Inferior Court, acting under an act passed 
by the Georgia Legislature in 1858, appointed William T. Doster 
census taker for the 17th Reg. G. M., and William Morgan for the 
18th Reg. G. M., and the oath prescribed by law was administered 
to them. 


Greensboro Builds a Callaboose and Market 

Monday, Feb. 1, 1858 

“Upon the petition of the City Council of the City of Greens¬ 
boro, it is hereby ordered that they be allowed to build a brick build¬ 
ing and cover it with tin, on the South side of the Court House 
square, in a North & South line with the Jail-to be used as a “Calla- 
boose”, Market & Council Room—free of ground rent for all future 
time-provided they keep it so as that it does not become a nuisance, 
and that the Clerk serve Walter Griffin secretary of Council, with 
a copy of this order.” 

The building was erected and used for the purposes stated for 
many years. The old bell that was used as a signal to open and 
close the stores in Greensboro, was presented to the Market and 
City Council by the merchants of Greensboro; and was used for the 
three-fold purpose of announcing to the housekeepers that the Mar¬ 
ket was open, calling the City Council together and ringing the fire 
alarm. 

The old building served a useful purpose for many years, but 
was finally abandoned. It became a rendezvous for crap shooters and 
drunks. However, the City Council soon broke this up, and the upper 
room was converted into sleeping quarters for tramps. Finally, it 
became the sleeping quarters of (Judge) Charles J. Doherty who 
was a son of one of Major Jonas Fauche’s Greene County Dragoons, 
and rendered valuable service to the early settlers of Greene County. 
(Judge) Doherty was a brilliant, well educated neer-do-well who died 
a pauper. After Doherty’s death about 1910, the old building was torn 
down. 


ISAAC R. HALL SUCCEEDS VINCENT SANFORD, DEC’D 
AS CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT, IN 1858. 

Judge Isaac R. Hall, thei diminutive, efficient Clerk of the Greene 
Superior Court for many years, was a little more than threei feet tall, 
but no more efficient Clerk ever served the county. He was as pe¬ 
culiar as he was short in statue; and no one ever knew his abiding 
place. Some say that he slept on a round table in his office, but no 
one ever. caught him in bed. As he began to grow feebler, he took 
Mr. Jesse P. Wilson in the office as a helper. Mr. Wilson succeed¬ 
ed him as Clerk and he, too, was a most efficient Clerk for many 
years. He died in Atlanta, but his body was brought to Greensboro 
for burial. A,nd here, a most fitting tribute was paid this faithful of¬ 
ficer. His body lay in state in the office where he had worked so long, 
and from there his body was tenderly removed by his friends and 
laid by the side of his wife in the Greensboro cemetery, with Ma¬ 
sonic honors. 




450 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


In July 1823, Judge Thomas W. Cobb, formerly a citizen of Ogle¬ 
thorpe County, found it necessary to transfer his records as the exe¬ 
cutor of the will of Robert Toombs, Sr. of Wilkes, from Oglethorpe 
to Greene County. Judge Cobb became the guardian of that distin¬ 
guished son of Georgia, General Robert Toombs. When young Toombs 
was expelled from the State University, at Athens, Judge Cobb was 
present, and with a heavy heart he brought his ward to Greensboro 
where he remained until he could arrange to enter him at Princeton, 
where he graduated with high honors. Tradition says that, had it 
not been for Judge Cobb’s kindly interest in that brilliant student 
who had been so humiliated by the University of Georgia, he might 
never have reached the pennacle of fame that came to him in later 
years. Toombs spent many days in humiliation in the Cobb home in 
Greensboro, now the home of Miss Mae Townsend. 

This tradition was handed down from William W. D. Weaver 
to his son Judge W. M. Weaver, and from him to the writer. 


GENERAL ELIJAH CLARK’S GRAND-DAUGHTER 
MOVES TO GREENE COUNTY 

When William W. D. Weaver became administrator of the 
estate of Thomas Greenwood in September 1825, he assumed res¬ 
ponsibility for the property and welfare of his sister-in-law Ann 
Leonora Greenwood-Mounger and her children. Thomas Greenwood 
married Ann Leonora Mounger on March 9, 1819. Her father was Ed¬ 
win Mounger who married General Elijah Clark’s daughter. William, 
W. D. Weaver married Caroline M. Mounger on April 8, 1824, and 
she was a sister of Ann Leonora Mounger. 

Ann Leonora remained a widow until she married Bishop James 
O. Andrew on Jan. 13, 1844. And, it was the slaves that came into 
his possession through his wife, that caused him to become unfrock¬ 
ed as Bishop just a few months later. However, the organization of 
the M. E. Church South followed soon after, and James O. Andrew 
immediately became a Bishop of that body. 

Two years later, Dr. H. H. King of Greensboro married Caro¬ 
line M. Greenwood, daughter of Ann Leonora now Mrs. J. O. And¬ 
rew and Bishop Andrew performed the marriage ceremony. Thus 
did the descendants of Dr. H. H. King and William W. D. Weaver 
become descendants of General Elijah Clark the old Revolutionary 
hero. 


OLIVER CROMWELL 

Can it be that the old English Dictator whose act of mercy in¬ 
spired the story “Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight” had descendants 
in Greene County? 

Be that as it may; we find where one Oliver Cromwell owned land 
in Greene County in 1823. His land is merely mentioned as being one 
of the boundaries of a piece of land in litigation. 

Minutes of Ordinary’s 


Court, 1816-1828, p. 254. 




HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


451 


CLERK ORDERED TO OPEN THE COURT HOUSE FOR 
LOTTERY AND PREACHING 

Minutes of the Ordinary’s Court 1816-1828, p. 173, reads: “On 
the petition of sundry persons it is ordered that the Clerk open the 
Court House for the drawing of the Lottery authorized by the last 
Legislature for the benefit of the County Academy, in Greensboro, 
on cemetery hill; and further that said Clerk use his sound discretion 
in opening the Court House for preaching, presuming that he will 
admit all decent and orderly clergyman.” 

Almost as bad as buying free school books with beer tax in 1937. 


JAILED FOR DEBT 

Minutes of the Ordinary’s Court 1816-1828, p. 211, reads: 

“Upon the application of John Chew, Jailor, showing that Samuel 
Greene of Morgan County, is confined for debt in the common jail 
of this County, and that there is no bond to secure the payment of 
the lawful fees to the said Jailor for the confinement of the said 
Greene. Ordered therefore that the said Greene be released instanter.” 


When the Ocmulgee Circuit was created on December 10, 1807, 
Peter Early was the first presiding judge. The following outline of 
the Ocmulgee Ciruit is complied from information published in the 
1931 Official and Statistical Register, by the Department of Archives 
and History: 


OCMULGEE CIRCUIT 

(Created Dec. 10, 1807) 

Baldwin, Dec. 10, 1807-date (Clayton, p. 359) 

Greene, Dec. 10, 1807-date (Clayton, p. 359) 

Jones, Dec. 10, 1807-date (Clayton, p. 359) 

Laurens, Dec. 10, 1807-Dec. 19, 1818; Dec. 9, 1882; Dec. 23, 1884; 

Nov. 26, 1890; Mch. 1, 1908 (Clayton, p. 359; Lamar, p. 
361; Acts 1882-83, p. 152; Acts 1884-85, p. 107; Acts 1890- 
91, v. 1, p. 88; Acts 1807, p. 70) 

Morgan, Dec. 10, 1807-date (Clayton, p. 359) 

Putnam, Dec. 10, 1807-date (Clayton, p. 359) 

Randolph, Dec. 10, 1807-Dec. 10, 1812; name changed to Jasper 
(Clayton, p. 359; Lamar, p. 199) 

Telfair, Dec. 10, 1807-Dec. 19, 1818 (Clayton, p. 359; Lamar, p. 361) 
Wilkinson, Dec. 10, 1807-Jan. 1, 1912; Jan. 1, 1913-date (Clayton, p. 

359; Acts 1911, p. 81; Acts 1912, p. 101) 

Pulaski, Dec. 22, 1808-Dec. 19, 1818 (Clayton, p. 359; Lamar, p. 361) 

Twiggs, Dec. 15, 1809-Dec. 19, 1818 (Clayton, p. 574; Lamar, p. 361) 

Monroe, Dec. 24, 1821-Dec. 23, 1822 (Dawson, pp. 120, 122) 

Hancock, July 24, 1909-date (Acts 1909, p. 102) 





452 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THE FIRST FILIBUSTERING IN GEORGIA 

(By R. J. Massey) 

Greene County Court was in session, before which a very 
important case was being tried, and Hon. A. B. Longstreet 
was for the defense. Longstreet was afterwards better known 
as the author of “Georgia Scenes” and he was an able divine. 
At this time, however, he was one of the most prominent law¬ 
yers in the state. The case was called at about 3 o’clock in the 
afternoon. To his horror, be it said, he found that a very im¬ 
portant paper was missing. His recollection was that he had 
left it at Eatonton, a distance of some twenty-two miles. He 
held his hand very wisely and did not let the plaintiff know 
the paper was missing, but announced himself ready 1 for trial. 
In that day there were no livery stables, nor couriers ready to 
hand, so Mr. Longstreet met with some little trouble to find 
a man who would undertake the trip to Eatonton, and back 
in as short a time as possible; but he found one man, sent him 
in post haste for the missing paper; went into the trial, fili¬ 
bustered every point taken by the plaintiff, so as to gain time. 
He caused the plaintiff’s side to delay until late in the evening, 
so that court was adjourned before the defense was required to 
show its side. In the meantime the courier went to Eatonton. 
arriving there 8 o’clock at night, obtained the paper, came 
several miles back that night, arriving in Greensboro early the 
next morning, having made the ride of forty-four miles before 
it became necessary for Judge Longstreet to present the side 
for the defendant. 

Tradition has it that this was the first case of filibuster¬ 
ing known in Georgia and the knowing ones wink at the idea 
that Longstreet was the originator of the filibustering method 
so often adopted since by parties of the weaker cause in many 
instances . . . . ” 


COURTHOUSE BURNED 

“On the night of Thursday, August 1st, the Courthouse 
and Jail in Greensboro, Georgia, were burned down; it is sup¬ 
posed that the destruction was occasioned by a runaway Negro 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


453 


who relieved his former comrade by breaking open the Jail and 
then setting fire to the building.” 

Augusta Herald, Thursday, Aug. 15, 1805. 

Note: This refers to the burning of Greensboro’s second Court¬ 
house; the first was destroyed by the Indians in 1787. The third Court¬ 
house was built in 1806, and the old Rock Jail was built in 1807-8. 

The present Courthouse was built in 1848-9, and is Greene County’s 
fourth temple of justice. 

As to what records were lost in this fire no one knows; but it is 
quite certain that many were saved, but badly damaged. This assump¬ 
tion is bourne out by the fact that, in 1811 thei Greene County Infer¬ 
ior Court employed Benjamin Jourdan to transcribe the original re¬ 
cords in bound books; and, the original contract is still in existence 
and in the handwriting of Mr. Jourdan. The beautiful penmanship 
that characterizes the records up to that time, was supposed to have 
been done by Ezekiel Park and other Clerks of the Court, but not 
so; their handwriting can be identified, but Benjamin Jourdan was the 
master-penman who deciphered and re-wrote the early records. 


DUELS 

Southern Watchman, June 14, 1860: L. A. Nelms, of 
Warrenton and Dr. Wm. R. Holmes of Waynesboro fought 
a duel. Nelms was injured and Holmes not hurt. William M. 
McIntosh of Elbert and John D. Ashton were seconds. 

Greensboro-Herald Journal, Oct. 5, 1888: General Jack- 
son fought two duels with Governor Sevier in 1803 and one 
with Charles Dickinson, all three were over his wife. 

This paper also tells the story of General Isaac Putnam 
being challenged by a young officer. The General proposed 
that each should sit on a powder keg with a lighted fuse. Put¬ 
nam would accept no other weapon. The young man ran when 
the flames neared the bunghole. Putnam yelled to him, “Hold 
on there the keg’s filled with onion seeds”. The duel between 
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is related in the issue of 
July 11, 1804. 

The Augusta Chronicle of April 9, 1796 had this article: 
J. Gunn challenged Abraham Baldwin to a duel in a letter 
dated March 11, 1796 because of a political dispute about 
correspondence between the State of Ga. and Washington. 


454 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


This duel did not take place, or no record could be found 
that it did. 

Patrick Calhoun, grandson of the famous John C., and 
J. R. Williamson were to have a duel and that was known to 
be the last duel fought in Ga. this was in 1889. Hammerless 
Smith and Wesson pistols carrying five bullets were to be 
used. Williamson fired five times rapidly but Calhoun fired 
once and then unloaded his pistol, but asked for the apology 
from an insult offered him by Williamson. This he refused to 
do, saying, “You have four shots left, I will not apologize, 
you will have to use them.” Calhoun hesitated a moment went 
over and the two shook hands. Both admitted they had been 
too angry and there was a reconciliation effected and the 
parties returned to Atlanta. 

WHEN FORGERY WAS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH 
WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF CLERGY 

On December 14, 1792 the Georgia Legislature passed an 
act entitled: “An Act for the more effectually preventing and 
punishing forgery.” This act is recorded in Watkins’ Digest, 
page 467. And the punishment prescribed upon conviction, was 
death by hanging and without the benefit of clergy. Forged 
land-warrants, deeds, notes, orders for goods, etc., seemed to 
be quite common prior to the year 1800. And any one found 
guilty of any kind of forgery, was not only hanged but was de¬ 
nied a Christian burial. 

If any one has any doubt about this law being enforced, 
just read the proceedings of the Greene County Superior Court 
for the September term for the year 1800, which reads as fol¬ 
lows : 

The State vs. Steven Heard and William Heard, Ind’t for 
forgery. 

Verdict of the jury, Guilty with a recommendation to 
mercy. “You Steven Heard, and you William Heard are to be 
conducted from this Bar to the place from whence you came, 
and there be safely kept until Friday the twenty-sixth day of the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


455 


month, on which said twenty-sixth day of September instant. 
You Stephen Heard and You William Heard are to be taken 
out, by the proper officer, and to be conducted to a gallows 
previously to be erected, in or near the Town of Greensboro 
and then, and there between the hours of ten o’clock in the 
forenoon and two o’clock in the afternoon of the afore¬ 
said twenty-sixth day of September instant, You Stephen Heard 
and William Heard are severally and each and both of you to 
be hung by the neck until you are dead. And the Lord have 
mercy on your souls. 

The minutes of the same term of court also shows the 
following: 

The State vs. John McAdams and Robert Hobbs Indc’t 
for forgery. Verdict of the jury, Guilty with a recommenda¬ 
tion to mercy. Both of these men were sentenced to be hanged 
on the twenty-sixth day of September also, and the wording of 
the sentence was exactly the same as that of Stephen and Wil¬ 
liam Heard. 

The Judge did not deny the convicted men the benefit of 
clergy. This was probably due to the fact that the jury recom¬ 
mended mercy. The law as it appeared on the statute books, 
did not allow the Judge any discretion, as death by hanging, 
was the only punishment prescribed. 

Although the Court records do not show it, tradition says, 
that neither of the convicted men were hanged. 

Judge Columbus Heard, who was at one time a partner 
of Governor McDaniel, and one of the ablest lawyers in the 
State, became interested in the history of this case. And claim¬ 
ed to have unraveled the story. His version was as follows: He 
became interested on account of one of the defendants being 
named Stephen Heard, and as he was a descendent of General 
Stephen Heard of Wilkes county, he wanted to find out if these 
men who were convicted of forgery, were any kin to him. His 
investigations revealed the fact, that they were not related to 
General Stephen Heard. And that the forgery consisted of the 
changing of land-warrants, or the forgery of deeds to certain 
lands in Greene county that they wanted. Judge Heard also 


456 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


said, that some prominent people became interested in the 
case and secured the names of the Jury, Judge, and many citi¬ 
zens to a petition to the Governor to commute the sentence to 
life imprisonment. And that a number of Greene county citizens 
went to Louisville to see the Governor and present the peti¬ 
tion. And that after much pleading, Governor Josiah Tattnall 
granted the request to spare the lives of the forgers. He also 
found that the time was so short, that it would require great 
haste in order to place the Governor’s order in the hands of 
the Sheriff in time to prevent the execution. And that it would 
be necessary to travel both day and night, and get fresh horses 
along the way, and that had not the Sheriff anticipated favor¬ 
able action on the part of the Governor, and delayed the hang¬ 
ing until the last hour, the order would have reached him too 
late. 

There is no record to show where these men were ever 
pardoned, and it is presumed that they spent the rest of their 
lives in prison. 

Hangings were public events in those days, and men, 
women and children traveled many miles in wagons, ox-carts 
and on horseback in order to see an execution. The public gal¬ 
lows for Greene county was located about one mile from the 
court house, and was near what is now Greensboro’s Aviation 
field. 


BANKS—1857 

Copied from the Temperance Crusader of Nov 26, 1857. 

“In the Senate, the bill legalizing annual sessions of the 
legislature was passed by a vote of seventy-one yeas to seven¬ 
teen nays. 

The Senate also passed a bill directing Tax collectors to 
receive in payment of taxes, all bank bills in general circulation 
at the time of payment, and the State Treasurer, County Trea¬ 
surers, and officers of the State road were also directed to 
receive the same kind of currency. 

We must not lose sight of the fact that, 1857 was one 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


457 


of the worst panic years that this country ever had. Condi¬ 
tions were so bad that the charters of all the banks in England 
were canceled. 

Georgia had only a few banks and all of them issued 
bills or notes that circulated freely. Some of these bank bills 
were almost worthless, while others were worth anywhere 
from 25 cents to 75 cents on the dollar. 

The total amount of Taxes collected by the State of Geor¬ 
gia in 1857 was only $595,000.00, and one newspaper made 
this comment on the extravagance of the State: “For Heaven’s 
sake let this be the first source of extravagance to spike.” 

Banks were failing everywhere that year. One Greens¬ 
boro Bank failed, and brought forth the following comment 
from the Temperance Crusader: “Amid the almost univer¬ 
sal suspension and crash of Banking Institutions, the above 
wild-cat concern (the Greensboro Bank), on Thursday night, 
broke too, and has not been heard of since. The whole concern 
left under cover of night at railroad speed, and we guess their 
exchange (of climate), is not yet suspended. We do not think 
they had a great many notes in circulation in this section nor 
in this State. Attachments have been levied on all of the furn¬ 
iture which they left, but it will not amount to a great deal we 
presume.” 

No doubt some of the bills of this defunct bank were used 
to pay Taxes that year under the above Act. 

The instability of other banks of that period, is reflected 
in the following statement of another Greensboro Bank just a 
few weeks after the above failure: 

“Statement of the Bank of Greensboro at the close of 
business on Tuesday 24th day of November 1857.” 


Assets Liabilities 


Notes Discounted 

$90,000.00 

Expenses, Salaries etc, 

3,688.62 

Office Furniture 

417.42 

Paid for Engraving and 


printing notes etc. 

1,782.23 

Due from Banks 

4,879.00 

Specie 

15,121.00 


$115,888.57 


Capital Stock Subscribed $200,000.00 

25% paid in 50,000.00 

Circulation 60,599.00 

Profits on Interest & Exc. 5,289.27 

Due Depositors 0,000.00 

$115,888.27 


458 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS 


B. B. Wight 285 Shares at $100.00 per share $80,000.00 

Charles W. Keith 800 Shares at $100.00 per share 50,000.00 

H. B. Godard 500 Shares at $100.00 per share 28,500.00 

B. B. Wight 285 Shares at $100.00 per share 23,000.00 

W. M. Keith 280 Shares at $100.00 per share 28,500.00 

T. Chittenden 285 $200,000.00 


This bank seems to have had no deposits, and their cir¬ 
culation exceeded their paid in capital by $10,599.00. Many 
of their beautifully engraved bills or notes are scattered all over 
the United States. 

This old “Wildcat” bank was chartered in 1856, operated 
until November 1857; folded its tent and its owners fled be¬ 
tween suns. They carried their printing outfit with them and 
flooded the country with worthless notes. The bank did not 
function, in Greensboro, Ga. after November 1857, therefore 
this note, and many thousands like it, were not printed in 
Greensboro. The names that appear on the notes, J. H. Stevens 
and O. S. Stevens, were not the original owners who fled in 
November 1857. The Stevens have been identified as citizens 
of the State of Maine. The names of the officers and owners 
of the bank that functioned in Greensboro up to November 
1857, are as follows: 

Charles W. Keith, H. B. Godard, B. B. Weight, W. M. 
Keith and C. Chittendon. They are the ones who fled and, the 
presumption is that they sold their charter, lithograph plates 
and printing press to the two Stevens, and the Stevens boys are 
the ones who flooded the country with these worthless notes. 

None of the original owners were natives of Greensboro, 
and are supposed to be adventurers who came here from some¬ 
where in “Yankeyland.” 

The original charter bore the names of some of Greens¬ 
boro’s finest citizens; such as William C. Dawson, Yelverton 
P. King, Francis H. Cone and others; but several of these men 
died about the time the charter was issued, and they never 
actually opened the bank. The assumption is that Messers 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


459 


Keith, Godard, Weight and Chittendon were looking for an 
opening, heard that a charter had been issued, came here and 
bought, or otherwise acquired the charter and proceeded to 
open and operate the bank for about two years. A statement 
of the condition of the bank was published in the Temperance 
Banner, at Penfield, Ga. in November 1857, and indicated 
that the bank had made more than Fifty Thousand dollars 
($50,000.00) up to that time. The paper stated that only a 
few of the bank’s notes were in circulation, here, at the time it 
failed. The only note, that I have seen, that bore the names 
of the original owners, was a $10.00 note that was owned by 
the Aetna Insurance Company, it was printed from the same 
plate that later $10.00 notes were printed from-a different 
design from the $5.00 notes. $1.00 and $2.00 notes that were 
printed after the bank failed, bore the name of O. O. Norton, 
Cashier. Several of these have turned up in Bridgeport, Conn. 
At least three other presidents and cashiers names appear on 
notes that were issued at different times, but all that I have 
seen, bear date of Dec. 7, 1858. This date was engraved on the 
plates and had nothing to do with the actual date on which 
they were printed. 

STORES AND BANKS 1857-90 

Comparatively few changes took place in the business 
houses of Greensboro between 1886 and 1890. The town rock¬ 
ed along pretty much in the same old way, with the same muddy 
streets, the same old kerosene street lamps that often requir¬ 
ed a lantern to find them, the same old horse rack and 
mulberry tree, and the same old public well. 

Back in those days the town had only one marshal, and he 
was an expert whittler. There was no trash wagon or street¬ 
cleaning service of any kind. When the stores were swept out 
in the morning, the trash was burned, usually in front of the 
stores. This created mounds of ashes, and when they got too 
large, the marshall made the store owners cart them away, or 
scatter them. 

Practically all of the business changes took place in the 
1880’s were the changes that took place in the ownership of 


460 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


what was known as the “Davis Store”, and later known as 
the “Big-Store”, now occupied by M. R. Binns Company, J. H. 
McCommons Co. and the Herald-Journal. 

It seems to have been the custom of Mr. Charles A.. 
Davis, Sr. who was the most successful merchant that Greens¬ 
boro ever had; to sell the privilege of doing business in this 
store, to his employees who showed marked ability. This sale 
of privilege seems to have been for periods of five years, and 
at the expiration of that time the store reverted to Mr. Davis 
And he would sell it to another set of men. This plan seems 
to have proven profitable both to Mr. Davis and the men to 
whom he sold the privilege of operating the store. During the 
1880’s this store was operated alternately by McCall-Copelan 
& Co. Copelan-Seals & Armor, and Davis Bros. & Seals. The 
two Davis brothers; Charles A. Jr. and Oscar, are still living, 
and are among Atlanta’s successful business men. They are the 
only ones now living of the Merchants who did business in 
Greensboro prior to 1886. 

In 1889 Mr. E. A. Copelan opened the first real bank 
that Greensboro ever had. There had been at least two banks 
that issued private currency many years before Mr. Copelan 
established his bank, which was a private institution, but did 
not issue currency. Back in those days the State permitted in¬ 
dividuals or firms that did a legitimate banking business to 
call themselves Bankers. But under the present law governing 
banking; all Banks must have a definite paid in capital, and 
be Chartered by the State, and governed by a board of direct¬ 
ors. And must be examined by Bank Examiners at regular 
intervals, and subject a rigid enforcement of the State’s Bank¬ 
ing Laws. 'While private bankers did not have to make re¬ 
ports of their condition to the State or Government. 

The so-called currency issued by private banks many years 
ago, was in reality nothing but notes issued by the banks, and 
were payable on demand of the holder without interest. One 
of these old bank notes issued in 1857 by a bank that was 
called The Bank of Greensboro, was sent to the present Bank 
of Greensboro some time ago to find out if it had any value 
now. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


461 


The Five dollar bill, or note that was issued before the 
war between the states, and sent by a Chicago Bank to the 
present Bank of Greensboro for information; was printed on 
one side only. The face of the note was beautifully engraved, 
and showed a sheep-shearing scene in one corner, a timber¬ 
cutting scene in the center and a corn-gathering scene in another 
corner. 

The Bank of Greensboro replied to the Chicago Bank 
that sent the note as follows: 

Gentlemen: 

We thank you for sending us the $5.00 note issued by the 
Bank of Greensboro on December 7th, 1858 for redemption. 

We are not disposed to figure the compound interest on 
the amount, but straight interest for 72 years at 8% per an¬ 
num to $28.80, and the face value of the note being $5.00, 
brings the total up to $33.80. 

We do not believe in being close and stingy in a trans¬ 
action of this kind, therefore, we are going to show you how 
liberal we Greensboro people are, by enclosing you l-$ 100.00 
bill, l-$20.00, 1 -$ 10.00 and 1 -$5.00, making a total of $135.00 
in full payment of the $5.00 note that you sent us. 

We interpret the pictures on the note that you sent us to 
mean that the Bank at that time had some sheep to shear, 
lots of timber to cut, and corn to gather. And the assumption 
is, that these items were the security offered to him who ac¬ 
cepted the note. 

From the best information that we can gather, there was 
a man by the name of Sherman, who passed through this part 
of the country soon after this note was issued, and gathered 
up the sheep and corn to feed his army. The timber was cut 
into lumber to build houses. And the a-fore-said Sherman came 
along and burned the houses after he had “sacked” their con¬ 
tents. And we have an idea that one or his soldiers found this 
note among other things that he “salvaged” before applying 
the torch. 


462 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Had Mr. Sherman not been so careless with fire on his 
famous march, the Bank might have realized on the assets de¬ 
picted on its notes, and retired them long ago. 

Of course this is only a by-play on a bit of history that 
brings sad memories to both those who wore the “blue and the 
grey,” and none are farther from “waiving the bloody-shirt” 
than we are. 

To be serious, the note that you sent us is of no value, as 
the Bank that issued it ceased to function during the War Be¬ 
tween the States. The present Bank of Greensboro has no con¬ 
nection with the bank of the same name that existed at that 
time. The present Bank of Greensboro was organized in 1926. 

We would like to keep the note you sent us as a souvenir, 
but unless you are perfectly willing for us to have it, we will 
return it. 

You may keep the Confederate bills that we enclose whe¬ 
ther you accept them in exchange for the note that you sent 
or not, as the writer has more of them (face value) than he 
has in the coin of the realm under the present regime. 

We greatly appreciate your sending us the $5.00 note. 
Also your courteous letter making inquiry about its value etc. 


Yours very truly, 
T. B. Rice 


Chapter XIII 
DIXIANA 

THE OLD OUTHOUSE 

Robert Burns, James Whitcomb Riley and other poets have 
written unpublished poems of the old “outhouse” of our fore¬ 
fathers. Now, the passing of this important institution, due to 
the sanitary age, the future generations will not know about. 

This relic of the past was an adjunct to a home built soon 
after the Pilgrim fathers landed, and indeed in Greene County 
from its beginning in 1786 for many years to come. 

This small house about six by six feet had a door with an 
inside latch, a string tied across one corner with old papers and 
magazines folded over it, and a seat with usually three holes. 
Long ago Nature’s calls were just the same as now and it re¬ 
quired a brave soul to venture out to a vine-covered privy in the 
garden alone before retiring for the night. As a boy, I remember 
walking in the night with stomach cramps from eating too many 
green plums or apples, and call and call someone to accompany 
me to the garden at the dead hour of midnight. 

Now the privy-builder is an artisan comparable to the vil¬ 
lage blacksmith and the buggy-whip manufacturer, well nigh 
extinct. Modern plumbing has reached the country districts and 
in the next few years there may not be an outhouse left. 

It was there I read my first horoscope, farm periodicals, 
Sears Catalog, garden seed catalogues and patent medicine ad¬ 
vertising. 

The wealthy planters sometimes painted their outhouses 
white and wall papered the inside, put a grass rug on the floor 
and had five holes in the seat. 

During the 30’s it was the job of the W. P. A. privy expert 
to talk people into building screened and pit outhouses and using 
a desirable location, be that as it may, no one can appreciate 
indoor plumbing who hasn’t gone out on a freezing night down 
the garden path and had to break the icicles from over the door 
to get in and then felt the freezing blast from the north. 


463 


464 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GEORGIA HOSPITALITY IN 1790 

Georgia Scenes by Longstreet 

I quote the following from Georgia Scenes, and later “The 
Turn Out,” on page 80. I visited my friend Captain Griffen, 
who resided about seven miles to the eastward of Wrightsboro, 
then in Richmond, but now in Columbia county. I reached the 
Captain’s hospitable home on Easter, and was received by him 
and his good lady with a Georgia welcome of 1790. It was warm 
from the heart, and taught me in a moment that the obligations 
of the visit were upon their side, not mine. Such receptions were 
not peculiar at that time, to the Captain and his family; they 
were common throughout the state. Where are they now, and 
where are the generous hospitalities which invariably followed 
them? I see them occasionally at the contented farmer’s door 
and at his festive board, but when they shall have taken leave 
of these, Georgia will know them no more.” 

I doubt if a clearer description of genuine hospitality, was 
ever written. And Judge Longstreet’s prophesy that it would 
become a lost art, has almost come to pass. 

Towns and small cities, held few attractions over what the 
country residences had. All the young people of the country 
found ample sport and recreation at home. The means of trans¬ 
portation were: open and closed carriages; buggies; sulkies; 
road-carts, and fine saddle horses. The ladies used side-saddles 
in those days; and many of them were splendid horseback riders. 
Every home had a horse-block for the ladies to mount their 
steed. Some of these horse-blocks were made of stone, and a 
few are still to be seen around some of the old country homes. 

Tuesdays and Saturdays were the days that most of the 
people went to town to do their shopping, and attend to bus¬ 
iness. Most of the ladies went on Tuesdays, for the reason that 
most of the “riff-raff,” went on Saturdays. The people were 
very social in those days, and when the men got through with 
their business, they usually met in groups at their favorite 
haunts. Certain groups would meet at some lawyers office. 
Others met in certain offices at the court-house. Most of the 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


465 


business houses fitted up loafing places for their friends and 
customers to meet. Those who were careless about their drink¬ 
ing habits, met in the bar-rooms, and spent most of their time 
there. This class usually went home drunk, and often, had to be 
carried home. 

Sunday was a day of rest, and worship. Nearly everybody 
went to church. Every community had its churches; and the 
people flocked there in great numbers. The ladies sat on one 
side of the church, and the men and boys on the other. The side 
on which the men sat, was furnished with foot-rests and spit- 
boxes. Most of the men chewed tobacco during church services. 
After preaching; everybody, invited everybody else to go home 
with them for dinner, and what dinners they did have! After 
dinner, everybody took a nap. A favorite place for the men was, 
on the floor in the hall. A straight chair was a favorite head¬ 
rest, and the way it was used, was to lay it on the floor by pull¬ 
ing it forward so that the front of the seat, and the posts at the 
back would touch the floor. This would form a head-rest of 
about 30 degrees; then a feather pillow was put under the head. 
There were few, if any, fly-screens in use in those days, and it 
was customary for each sleeping guest to have a little “darkie” 
fan the flies off. After the “siesta”, everybody would bathe 
their faces with fresh water from the well. (Of course this pic¬ 
ture is for summer-time visitors). And after they were refreshed, 
the next stop was to cut and eat water-melons. No guest was 
ever served with less than a half of a melon. And these melons 
that did not look, and taste just right, were fed to the hogs, and 
the process of cutting was continued, until each guest had a 
choice piece. I have seen as many as a dozen melons cut, before 
one was found to suit the host; when any one of them looked 
good to me. 

After the feast of melons and fruit, horses were saddled; 
and host, and guests, rode over the plantation to look at crops, 
and compare conditions; while the ladies duscussed the things 
that were of special interest to them. 

Most of the large farms were looked after by “Overseers”, 
who were in reality, farm managers; and were responsible for 
the success of the farm. Many of them were good business men 


466 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


who, through force of circumstances, were not land, and slave 
owners. In most cases, the overseers were not permitted to pun¬ 
ish the slaves. That right rested with the Master alone. After 
the war of 1861-5 ended; few of the planters were able to cope 
with the new conditions. Some of them recognized that fact 
early, and either sold, or rented their lands to overseers, or sold 
it on such terms as they could and moved to town. 

Many large land owners, either sold, or gave small tracts 
to their former slaves. All contracts pertaining to the rental or 
purchase of land, were expressed in bales, or pounds of middling 
cotton. Corn, hay, wheat and other farm products were never 
mentioned; and the importance of planting plenty of cotton was 
always stressed. Supply merchants did the same thing. And in 
this way, cotton became the one money crop in Greene County. 

Naturally, these overseers knew more about handling negro 
fabor, than their former owners did; and they gradually became 
owners of much of the land. Many of these former overseers 
became prosperous farmers, and are among Georgia’s best 
citizens. 

A striking illustration of the neighborly esteem that existed 
between planters in the early days of Greene County, is shown 
by the following true story: Colonel Richard Willis, and Judge 
Thomas Stocks were near neighbors and very fond of each 
other. Both were large land and slave owners. Colonel Willis 
moved to Greene, from Wilkes county and bought a large tract 
of land from a Mr. Mathews. This farm consisted of some six 
thousand acres, and lay broad-side of the Oconee for many 
miles. Much of it was virgin land; and the money consideration 
was some forty thousand dollars. Colonel Willis had been a 
large planter in Wilkes county for a number of years, and the 
citizens of Greene were very anxious to have him locate here. 
Colonel Willis did not have enough ready money to pay for the 
land, and carry on his farming operations; so he paid about half 
of the amount cash, and gave a series of notes for the balance. 
It is said that Joel Early furnished the money to complete the 
payment for the land, and that, he agreed for Colonel Willis to 
take as much time as he wanted to pay him. Some years later 
Colonel Willis defaulted on one or two payments on account of 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


467 


bad crop years, and Mr. Early refused to extend the payments, 
and threatened to sell the land. This naturally upset Colonel 
Willis, and he went to confer with his friend, Judge Stocks. The 
thought of losing his friend and neighbor, caused him a restless 
night, and he rode oyer to see Colonel Willis early the next 
morning. And together, they called on Mr. Early. Mr. Early 
was firm in his demand for the payment of the balance due him. 
Whereupon; Judge Stocks pulled out his wallet, and paid the 
entire amount due by Colonel Willis, and had Mr. Early make 
a straight deed to Mr. Willis. Judge Stocks is said to have re¬ 
fused to take a note, or any other evidence of the debt from 
Colonel Willis. 

Those who knew the facts, related this incident to me. And 
it is said that two years later, Colonel Willis paid Judge Stocks 
back every dollar that he had advanced for him, but that Judge 
Stocks declined to accept any interest. And that Judge Stocks 
remarked; that it was worth more to him to have a friend, and 
neighbor like Willis, than the interest on a few thousand dollars. 

This drew these two men together even closer than they 
had ever been. And it is said, that no day ever passed that they 
did not see each other. 

Their homes stood on elevations, about one mile apart, and 
were surrounded by beautiful magnolias, and stately forest oaks. 
Their yards were beautifully laid out, and bordered with shrub¬ 
bery of many kinds; gravel walks led among the flowers, which 
bloomed in profusion throughout the year. Among such sur¬ 
roundings, they entertained their hosts of friends. 

So solicitous were they of each other’s welfare, they had 
an avenue cut between their homes, 60 feet wide, in order that 
their view of each others home might not be obstructed. Both 
kept field-glasses, in order that they might see more clearly. 

Colonel Willis died soon after the Civil War. Judge Stocks 
died in 1876. Colonel Willis’ son, Captain L. B. Willis lived in 
the old home until the late 1890’s, and the writer visited his 
home many times. Much of its beauty remained; and the old- 
time hospitality lived on as long as Captain Willis had anything. 
Captain Willis died about 1900. The old Willis home was oc- 


468 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


cupied by Negroes for many years, and was burned a few years 
ago. Some part of the old Stocks home is still standing, but is 
also occupied by Negroes. The magnolias, the oaks, the shrub¬ 
bery and the flowers are all gone; and nothing remains but a 
faint memory in the minds of a few, who knew, and loved these 
beautiful old homes of the long-ago. 

On a recent visit, the writer stood in front of these two 
old land-marks with bowed-head, and uttered a silent prayer of 
thankfulness, that he had been permitted to see some of their 
beauty, and partake of some of the hospitality of the former 
owners. 

Judge Stocks’ liberality was not confined to Greene county 
alone. He seems to have had friends all over Georgia, who were 
the recipients of his generosity. The writer has a file of corre¬ 
spondence between him and Mark A. Cooper of Etowa, Ga. 
dating back to about 1840. 

Sometime in the 1830’s Mark Cooper built the first Iron 
Works in Georgia. And it seems that he became heavily involved 
in the late 30’s. He appealed to his friends throughout the state 
both in person and by letter. His appeals must have been very 
eloquent, as he secured a loan of $10,000 from Judge Stocks, 
and his endorsement for $100,000 in addition. This old file of 
correspondence shows that the entire obligation was paid in full 
a few years later. As evidence of his appreciation of his friends, 
Mr. Cooper erected, what is said to be, the only monument ever 
erected in honor of his living friends. This monument stood in 
a little park, in front of his office on the Etawa river, near 
Cartersville, Ga. And the names of his friends who came to his 
relief in the time of his distress, were carved on the four sides 
of a beautiful shaft of marble. 

General Sherman destroyed the Cooper Iron Works during 
the war between the states, but the monument was left standing. 
A few years ago, the Cartersville Chamber of Commerce, and 
the United Daughters of the Confederacy, had the old monu¬ 
ment brought to Cartersville, and set up in a little park in front 
of the hotel. The unveiling ceremony was quite an occasion, and 
a great-granddaughter of Mr. Mark Cooper, pulled the cord 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


469 


that veiled the monument. The writer presented the Chamber 
of Commerce, and the Cooper family with photostat copies of 
the correspondence looking to the re-financing of the enterprise. 


SHORT PARAGRAPHS FROM OLD 
NEWSPAPERS 

By T. B. Rice 

A, cave near Wrightsboro, Ga. described in the Temperance Crusader, 
Penfield, Ga. Dec. 3rd, 1857, is said to have a paved chamber 40 feet 
long and the walls are carved in hieroglyphics. 


THE DAILY LOCOMOTIVE: a paper published in Atlanta, Ga. in 
Jan. 1860, by John Soals. 


THE WEEKLY GAZETTE: In the third year of its age threw off 
its swaddling clothes and became THE PLANTERS WEEKLY on 
March 21, 1860. F. C. Fuller had been its editor. 


A former Greene County man declines the nomination as vice- 
President of the United States: 

The Greensboro Planters Weekly of June 20, 1860 says: 

“We see from our exchange that Benjamin Fitzpatrick, the 
nominee for the Vice-Presidency the rump convention has 
declined the nomination, and that ex-Governor H. V. Johnson 
of Georgia has been nominated by the Douglass Executive 
Committee, was nominated in the place of Mr. Fitzpatrick.” 

Benjamin Fitzpatrick was a resident of Greene County, 
Georgia, before moving to the new State of Alabama, where 
he became one of the South’s greatest statesmen. His father 
owned what is commonly known as the Billups place, and 
erected a private Fort for the protection of his family against 
Indian attacks. Fitzpatrick’s fort is shown on a Military map 
of Greene County that bears date of 1793. 


According to the GREENSBORO PLANTERS WEEKLY of July, 
4, 1860. “Greensboro preacher objected to an increase in his salary. 


From the PLANTERS WEEKLY of Oct. 10, 1860: “Davis & Bro— 
meaning Charles A. Davis, Sr. and his brother, William S. 
Davis, moved into their new store (known now as the “Big 
Store”) during this week” 

The same paper tells of the completion of the beautiful 
residence of Wm. S. Davis (the home now owned by Mr. 
Hugh Evans), the new brick store of Winfield, Jackson & 







470 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Co. (now owned by Charles Poulos), and the new brick store 
of Mr. Zimmerman (now occupied by the Western Auto Ac¬ 
cessories Store). About this same period a number of other 
brick stores were built on Main Street in Greensboro. 


Good Bye Tallow Candles 

The following advertisement appeared in The Greensboro Weekly 
Gazette of Dec. 1, 1859: 


“KEROSENE OIL” 

“As artificial light is indespensible and every one wants a 
beautiful, clear and brilliant one, we would recommend them 
to use Kerosene Oil, as it is, in our opinion, far superior to 
anything ever before brought to light. 

(Signed) J. Henry Wood 

Note:—Mr. J. Henry Wood, at that time, operated a drug 
store in Greensboro. Later, he became associated with 
Mr. Charles A. Davis, Sr. in the General Merchandise 
business, under the firm name of Davis, Wood & 
Johnson. This firm succeeded C. A. Davis & Bro. 


CHATTAKANOYA 

Back in the 1790’s the Indians occupied the territory beyond the 
Oconee River and made frequent trips to Greensboro to trade. At that 
time, all merchants sold whiskey this is clearly proven by Greene 
County records that show the names of those who held license to sell 
liquor). When an Indian entered one of these stores for the purpose 
of refreshing himself he said, “CHATTAKANOYA-ONE-DOLLAR- 
HUN-KEE.”—meaning that he wanted one dollar’s worth of whiskey. 

Note:—One dollar would buy a gallon of whiskey, back in 
those days, and was enough to put the devil in ten or 
twelve Indian bucks. When thus fortified they would 
slip across the river, at night, and make raids on iso¬ 
lated homes of pioneers. Sometimes, they gathered a 
few scalps as well as horses and cows. This made it 
necessary for the Georgia Legislature to pass a law 
prohibiting the sale of liquor to Indians; but then, 
as now, some dealers loved the dollar so well that they 
disregarded the law. Early Greene County Court rec¬ 
ords are teeming with indictments against merchants 
and individuals for illicit sales to Indians. 


Greene County’s First Court 

Contrary to the belief that Greene County’s first term of the Superior 
Court was held in January, 1790. I have the original presentments of 
the Grand Jury at the May term of the Greene Superior Court held in 
May, 1787, just a few months after Greensboro was burned by the 
Indians. Unfortunately, no other record of that court is in existence. 
However, many of Greene County’s early records are in the Archives 
of Duke University. How did they get there? 





HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


471 


Taxes 

According to the Greensboro Gazette of June 1, 1859, the greatest 
amount paid for taxes by any citizen of the United States was $85,000.- 
00, the amount paid by Wm. B. Astor of New York. 


Atlanta Hotels 

According to The Greensboro Gazette of Feb. 1859, “Cousin” John J. 
Thrasher was operating The Washington Hotel in Atlanta. “Cousin” 
John could not compete with the TROUT HOUSE so he moved to 
Griffin. 

DR. BOYD and THE TROUT HOUSE were “played up” by Editor 
John Seals in his CRUSADER of Feb. 4, 1859. 

He said, “Dr. Boyd has long been proprietor of The Charleston 
Hotel. Editor Seals had just moved his TEMPERANCE CRUSADE 
from Penfield to Atlanta and, for some reason, he dropped the “Tem¬ 
perance” and called it THE CRUSADER. He boarded with Dr. Boyd, 
and I suspect Dr. Boyd’s Bar did not fit in with the original name of 
his paper. 


The Christian Index 

The Christian Index was published in Penfield up to November, 1861, 
when it suspended publication. So says The Crusader. 

The Christian Index resumed publication under Dr. H. H. Tucker after 
Atlanta dug out from under the ashes left by Sherman’s army, changed 
hands a number of times, and is now one of the greatest religious pub¬ 
lications in the South. 


The Will of Peter-the-Great, of Russia. 

Thei Will of Peter-the-Great was published in The Greensboro Gazette 
of Oct. 26, 1859. 

Item 3. says, “On every occasion take a part in the affairs and 
quarrels of Europe; above all, in those of Germany, which country 
being our nearest, more immediate concerns us.” 

(Stalin seems to be carrying out Peter’s instructions) 

Item 5. says, “Take as much as you can from Sweden and cause 
yourself to be attacked by her, so as to have a pretext for subduing 
her; to accomplish this, sever Denmark from Sweden, and Sweden 
from Denmark, carefully keeping up rivals. 

Item 7. says, England requiring us for her Navy, and she being 
the only power that can aid in the development of ours, seek a com¬ 
mercial alliance with her, in preference to any other. Exchange our 
wood and the productions of our land for her gold. 





472 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS 
AT PARK’S MILL 

Many stories have been written concerning the last Cabinet 
meeting of the Confederacy at the home of General Toombs, 
in Washington, Ga., the flight of President Jefferson Davis and 
his arrest a few days later at Irwinsville, the female garb that 
they say he wore at the time of his arrest; and the robbery of 
the Confederate wagon-train as it passed through Wilkes county. 
All of these stories are more or less conflicting, therefore, all of 
them cannot be true. However, there is one unpublished story 
that was often told by the late Judge James B. Park, Sr., father 
of Judge James B. Park, who has presided over the Ocmulgee 
Circuit for many years; and he too, recalls the incident related 
by his father. 

The story is as follows: Using Judge Park, Sr.’s own 
words—“When I reached home one evening about dark, I found 
my wife greatly excited over the arrival, a short time before, of 
a distinguished looking, mysterious stranger who asked to spend 
the night, but wanted to go to his room immediately, and wanted 
his horse and the horses of his companions to be fed, but wanted 
the bridles and saddles left on them. In addition to this request, 
he asked that he not be disturbed, and stated that he would 
leave before light the next morning.” “When I reached home,” 
quoting Judge Park, ‘my wife told me of the mysterious stranger 
and his request. I was anxious to find out who my guest was, 
and to render him such assistance as I could, so I went to his 
room and knocked on his door. When he opened the door I told 
him I was his host and anxious to do what I could for his com¬ 
fort. There was no light in the room, and I could only get a 
faint outline of my guest. He assured me that he had everything 
that he needed, but would like some directions as to how he 
could reach Eatonton without following the main road.” “After 
securing this information, he further asked that his horses be 
securely hidden and that his attendants be shown just where 
they were, and how to make a quick get-away. I hid the horses 
in my blacksmith shop, and gave explicit directions as to how 
to avoid the main Eatonton road. He informed me that they 
were being pursued, and asked I evade any questions asked by 
his pursuers. No names were given and no direct questions asked. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


473 


My guests departed at an early hour, and, soon after they 
left, a number of federal officers rode up to the ferry and de¬ 
manded to be put across the river at once. The flat was on the 
opposite side of the river from the officers, and I had previously 
instructed my ferryman to find some excuse for delaying them, 
consequently, some time was consumed in ferrying them across. 
They immediately began asking questions as any strangers who 
had passed that way etc, etc. I assured them that this was a 
public ferry and that many people were constantly crossing, and 
that many of them were total strangers to me, and that I rarely 
paid any attention to the people who came by unless, they had 
some business with me, personally. Several roads centered at 
that point, and they asked about each of them. I anticipated that 
they wanted to go in the direction of Eatonton, and I purposely 
pointed them to the longest route, which they took. After several 
hours, they returned but had no prisoners. They asked many 
more questions, but I do not think they ever suspected me of 
harboring the objects of their search, and went back toward 
Greensboro. 

Two days later, Mr. Davis was arrested at Irwinsville, 
and I will always believe that President Jefferson Davis was 
the mysterious stranger who spent the night in my home as he 
fled from Washington on his way to Irwinsville. 

In the fall of 1934, a middle aged man dropped into my 
office and introduced himself as Mr.-His card indi¬ 

cated that his business was that of tree-surgery, and while his 
office was in Chicago, he told me that most of his time was 
spent in Clearwater, Fla. He said he was greatly interested in 
the history of the Confederacy, and that he had been informed 
that I was the Historian for Greene County; and that he had 
been directed to me for information. 

He seemed particularly interested in the story of the rob¬ 
bery of the Confederate treasure-train as it passed through 
Wilkes County, and asked what I knew about it. I related the 
version that had been handed down to me, which he said was 
about the same as he had heard before; but, that he did not 
believe the ’oft told story of the robbery near Washington. Then 
he proceeded to tell me this story: He said, “an old ex-Con- 



474 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


federate soldier died in Indiana about a year ago, and that he 
claimed to be a native of middle-Tennessee, but had been living 
with his daughter in Indiana for some years. In discussing the 
War of 1861-65, he said,” I was a Cavalryman and spent much 
time around Richmond, Va., and when the Confederacy was 
about to fall, I was detailed as one of the wagoners to convey 
the treasure from Richmond to Nashville. We proceeded with¬ 
out mishap and finally reached Washington, Georgia, where we 
unloaded the gold and silver which were in kegs, in the vault of 
the bank at Washington, and rested there a day or two. We 
learned that we were being pursued by the Yankees, so we made 
a hurried get-away with the gold and silver and went on through 
Greensboro and in the direction of Park’s ferry. Mr. Davis ac¬ 
companied us in-cognito, and as we neared Park’s ferry, we 
learned that we were being pursued, so we turned into the woods 
and drove somewhere below the confluence of the Appalachee 
and Oconee rivers, and there we buried the treasure. We then 
retraced our steps for some distance, unhitched our teams, 
burned the wagons, each man selected a good horse or mule, 
turned the surplus animals loose, and it was a case of “each man 
for himself and the devil get the hindmost”. Here Mr. Davis 
left us and we never knew what became of him until we got the 
news of his arrest. I went to my Tennessee home and have never 
been to Georgia since, nor have I ever seen or heard of any of 
the men who were with me on that trip. 

If this story be true, President Jefferson Davis was less 
than three miles from the home of Judge Park when the wagons 
were abandoned; and, as Park’s ferry was a good day’s drive 
from Washington, he would have reached the Park home just 
about sundown. The only two direct routes from Washington to 
Milledgeville, would have been via Crawfordville, Powelton, 
Sparta and across the Oconee at Milledgeville, or via Greens¬ 
boro, Park’s ferry, Eatonton and on to Milledgeville; and the 
latter route would have been better and more practical. 

This ’oft repeated story by Judge James B. Park, Sr., 
dovetails so well with the account given by one of the teamsters 
of the treasure-train, that there must be something to it. Some 
Wilkes County people resent the implication that the robbery 
occured there; while others boldly claim that it was a fact. The 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


475 


late Judge Emory Speer is credited with having made the state¬ 
ment that, “he knew it was a fact, and that he got some of the 
money.” However, the Judge did not say that he was present, 
and the inference is, that some of the money was paid to him 
as a fee. 

Let us hope that the treasure-train did reach Greene County 
safely; and there is much golden treasure buried under the old 
red hills along the Oconee, and that some one will be lucky 
enough to find it, someday. 

CRACKER’S NECK 

The first tragedy of record, in Cracker’s Neck, was re¬ 
corded by the Augusta Chronicle in 1793, when a woman was 
scalped by the Indians at Parkers’ Fort, near where Mercer 
Reynolds’ “Lingerlonger” now stands. So numerous and hostile 
were the Creek Indians on the south bank of the narrow Oconee 
River, that the early settlers along the east bank had to build 
forts for the protection of their families and property; and 
these forts were garrisoned by troops that served for stated 
periods. Armor’s Fort, Gresham’s Fort, Parker’s Fort, Kim¬ 
brough’s Fort, Foster’s Fort and several other forts for the 
exclusive use of soldiers, were all located in Cracker’s Neck, 
along the Oconee; but even these precautions did not prevent 
the Indians slipping across, burning houses and murdering the 
people and stealing their Negroes and livestock. Much of this 
occurred during the occupancy of the west bank of the Oconee 
by Elijah Clark’s “Trans-Oconee Republic (1793-4), and it was 
not until 1802, when the Indians were pushed back across the 
Ocmulgee, and Baldwin County was organized when the danger 
of Indian raids ceased entirely, and the early settlers could de¬ 
velop their lands without fear of molestation. 

slaved an important part in the food for these early 
c eMers, and they very soon organized two fisheries above and 
below the mouth of Richland Creek. One of these was incor¬ 
porated under the name of the “Yazoo Fishery,” and the other, 
the “Methodist Fishery.” Each had twelve stockholders—one 
for each month in the year, and in this way, the traps were 


476 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


looked after by each shareholder during his term. When high 
water damaged the traps the man in charge for that month, 
notified the others to send hands to repair the damage. Those 
who failed to send help forfeited their rights for twelve months. 
The name Yazoo cut a big figure in Georgia at that time; and 
as Cracker’s Neck was a hot-bed for Methodism, they named 
their fishery for the Methodists. Some of the names of share¬ 
holders in the Yazoo can be traced to Baptist and Presbyterian 
Churches, but the other seems to have been composed entirely 
of Methodists. Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians were not 
on the best of terms back in those days—the Baptists and Pres¬ 
byterians seemed to feel it their duty to combine against the 
Methodists. 

Bishop Warren Candler is a by-product of Cracker’s Neck; 
his grandmother was a Miss Slaughter, and is said to have lived 
in Cracker’s Neck. 

Richard Lake was a very early settler in Cracker’s Neck. 
His eldest son, Abraham, was born in New Jersey, and came 
with his father to Greene County, Ga., about 1793. His grand¬ 
daughter, Emily Hill, married the late Captain James Warren 
English of Atlanta, Ga., therefore, all of her children and grand¬ 
children are by-products of Cracker’s Neck. Captain English 
organized the Fourth National Bank, which was consolidated 
with The Atlanta National Bank, and is now the First National 
Bank of Atlanta. Mr. James D. Robinson, now vice-president 
of The First National, married a daughter of Captain English. 
Back in the 1880’s our own Mr. Charles A. Davis, now of At¬ 
lanta, but who was born in Cracker’s Neck, became a partner 
in the Wholesale Dry Goods business with Mr. Robinson’s 
father. Many other prominent Atlantans and Georgians can 
trace their ancestors back to Cracker’s Neck. 

Simon Lake, the inventor of the submarine cannot be claim¬ 
ed as a by-product of Cracker’s Neck, but he is mighty close 
kin to the Lakes who came here from New Jersey. Dean Crain 
said—“If you will just give Rice time, he will prove that Noah’s 
Ark landed in Greene County.” 

Devereaux Lake, President of the Sandusky, Ohio Found¬ 
ary Company, is a descendent of Richard Lake of Greene 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


477 


County (Cracker’s Neck), and he was the first man in “Yankee- 
land” to raise his voice in protest over Collier’s “Devil in de 
Cotton” that appeared in Collier’s issue of Jan. 1, 1938. Mr. 
Lake immediately wrote the Greene County Historian and 
said “Skin the dirty muckrakers for defaming the county where 
my ancestors lived,” which I did. (see the Congressional Record 
of Feb. 9, 1938.) 

Judging from letters that I have received from people 
throughout these United States, making inquiry concerning their 
ancestors who once lived in Greene County, I am thoroughly 
convinced that Greene County had much to do with populating 
the entire South and West, therefore, if Greene County and 
Cracker’s Neck could corral their by-products, there is no telling 
what we could claim and do. 

Note: Mrs. W. G. Armor, of Greensboro, is the author of my informa¬ 
tion through his father, the late Judge W. M. Weaver, then 
late W. H. M. Weaver, of Macon, Ga., told me of how Scull 
Shoals Factory was saved from the torch. He got the informa¬ 
tion through his father, the late Judge W. M. Weaver, then 
whom, no one knew more about Greene County and her people. 

The Lake-English information was taken from a book entitled 
“THE LAKE FAMILY” by Deveraux Lake, who was kind 
enough to send me an autographed copy with his compliments. 

T. B. R. 

Mr. Charles A. Davis, Sr. was born there; but both father 
and son sold merchandise to several generations of Cracker’s 
Neckers, and much of their fortune came from there. Veazy 
Rainwater went direct from Cracker’s Neck to Atlanta, and 
since all Cracker’s Neckers are strong on Coca-Cola, we hope 
Veazy will not forget his first-love. 

Antebellum customs survived longer in Cracker’s Neck than 
any other part of Greene County. As a matter of fact, Mrs. 
Sallie Kimbrough’s old home is still the “Big-House,” to a few 
of the old slaves and many of their descendents. The back-yard 
kitchen with its immense fireplace, potrack, spiders and other 
open-hearth cooking utensils have been preserved; and the old 
weave-house, shoe shop and Doctor’s office are still standing, 
and just back of them is the family burying ground where every 
member of that once proud and wealthy family are buried. The 


478 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


old home is now owned by Miss Mildred Monfort, a neice of 
Mrs. Kimbrough. Miss Monfort has spent most of her life in 
this home, and she take pride in preserving the customs and 
traditions that connect it with the past. 

“LINGERLONGER,” IN CRACKER S NECK 

In a recent article, I tried to tell of Cracker’s Neck as it 
was in days long gone by, and if you gathered the impression 
that the descendants of those early settlers did not linger around 
the old roof-tree, your interpretation is eminently correct. Scrub¬ 
by pines have taken the place of corn and cotton; foxes, rabbits, 
quail and rattlesnakes have a free range and the settlers are few 
and far between. The old Curtright Factory has tumbled down; 
the canal that supplied water from the Oconee River to turn its 
machinery is cluttered with rock and dirt, and even the site of 
the magnificient home of its owner can scarcely be located. But, 
Mercer Reynolds, inventor, industrialist, capitalist, splendid 
citizen and friend to many, is not only the owner of some seven- 
thousand acres of land, but has built a Chateau and named it 
“LINGERLONGER,” and is again making that section “blos¬ 
som like a rose.” 

His herd of one hundred and fifty white-faced cattle, great 
barns filled with oats and hay, splendid tenant-houses, private 
electric plant and waterworks, tractors and other farm machin¬ 
ery cultivate his broad acres without horses or mules, and his 
well fed, well cared for colored tenants all testify to his good 
treatment. Mr. Mack Carter is his superintendent and Mr. and 
Mrs. Carter occupy a nice new home that is surrounded by many 
beautiful flowers that are the result of Mrs. Carter’s handi¬ 
work. Another white family lives near by, and some forty or 
more negroes, all descendants of “Granma” Lawrence, age 95 
to 105 has lived there all of her life and personally knew all 
the people of that section, are helping Mr. Reynolds to make 
a garden-spot of this long deserted region. Those who have been 
fortunate to be Mr. Reynolds’ guest at “LINGERLONGER”, 
feel that the spot is well named. 

Mercer Reynolds spent his young manhood in Greene 
County and married one of our finest young ladies, Miss_ 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


479 


Davison; his indomnitable energy and technical mind called for 
a wider field of usefulness than his home-county afforded, so he 
entered the Cotton Seed Oil industry where he made good in a 
large way, and it is doubtful if any other man knows the cotton¬ 
seed oil business as does Mr. Reynolds. To him goes the honor 
of being the inventor of the process of solidifying cooking com¬ 
pounds, and, whenever you buy a carton of this wholesome fat 
you should feel proud of the fact that this Greene county boy is 
the inventor of the process. 

Mr. Reynolds is also the head of a large Pulp Mill in 
Chattanooga that makes paper-pulp from hulls and linters, and 
many other bi-products that come from his plant. Casings for 
sausage and weiners are one of his products, and goodness only 
knows what else he has a hand in. Unlike many of the sons of 
old Greene County who have gone forth to win fame and for¬ 
tune, Mr. Reynolds’ heart turns back to his first love and is 
using some of his fortune to rebuild the waste places and demon¬ 
strating to the world that he has faith in “The Red Old Hills 
of Georgia,” especially, Greene County. When politicians wake 
up to the fact that their phobia against privately owned public 
utilities and industries is choking the country to death and pre¬ 
venting a return to normalcy, the Georgia Power Company will 
harness the Oconee River, create power for vast industries, de¬ 
velop rural electrification and make “Cracker’s Neck” as desir¬ 
able as it was in the long, long ago. 

‘STORIES OF CRACKER’S NECK” 

As recorded in Chapter 5, “Boyhood and Other Days in Georgia” 
by George W. Yarbrough, D. D.: 

“Cracker’s Neck” lies south of Greensboro, Georgia, 
the classic region of Greene County, as its name suggests. So 
charmed with this portion of his county was Hon. William C. 
Dawson, United States Senator from Georgia, that he was fond 
of claiming that his elegant home in Greensboro (the Clayton 
Home) was included in the “Neck.” Dwellers on the dividing 
lines between Greene, Hancock and Putnam Counties aspired to 
association with the citizenship of this highly favored region. 
In its early history it was noted mainly for the sentiment of 


480 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


liberty as it came down undiluted from the fathers of the Rev¬ 
olution. For the most part, they were a law unto themselves. 
They interpreted courts of justice to be institutions merely to 
keep the appearance of civilization. It is not surprising that their 
most historic church was named Liberty Chapel and that the 
county was named Greene, after General Nathaniel Greene, the 
friend of George Washington.” 

“The rich old blood of the Revolution was leaping in the 
veins of descendants of Revolutionary sires in the sixties; and 
Greene County, true to her traditions, invested heavily in that 
second struggle for independence; and there will always be 
channels for that blood to flow in, and they will never be dry. 
Let none receive the impression that the citizens of this locality 
were turbulent, fractious or troublesome. Far from it. Every 
man had a mind of his own and did as he pleased; and every¬ 
body accepted that order of things, and peace and harmony 
reigned.” 

“Writing for the most part from memory, I shall not be 
expected to be rigidly exact as to the topography of the country. 
The Oconee River, in a horseshoe curve, keeping it fresh and 
green on one side, and Shoulder Bone Creek washing it on the 
other side, will be sufficient for the outlines.” 

“Another part of Cracker’s Neck was made historic by 
the “Fox Chase” of “Georgia Scenes” (by Judge A. B. Long- 
street), when old “Smoothe-tooth,” after pitching his forelegs 
over a large log, concluded to let his hind legs remain where 
they were and come to rest, and where the grapevine caught his 
rider (Judge Longstreet) under the chin and came near lifting 
him out of his saddle as the scent of game grew warm, and 
ripened him into a gallop.” Old “Smoothe-tooth,” was Judge 
Longstreet’s mount on this famous fox hunt; and the chase 
started near the home of Mr. John Hall, father of the late 
V. S. Hall and other Greene County Halls. 

“Here and there, scattered throughout the States from 
Georgia to the Far West, are men and women who will have to 
let nature have her own way and moisten their cheeks a little 
as memory hovers over the old homes and haunts of the region 
I am visiting to-night on the same wing.” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


481 


“So dear to me and to others are the names of those 
families there, say in the early eighteen-fifties—that I will re¬ 
cord some of them. We readily recall the Armors, Dr. John 
Curtright, Col. Rowan Ward, the Kimbroughs, the Creddiles, 
the Woodhams, Brown (father-in-law of Rev. James Billings- 
lea and one of the riders in the celebrated “Fox Chase” of Geor¬ 
gia Scenes”), Perkins (grandfather of Preston Wright, of 
Greensboro, my old schoolmate), the Smiths, the Hutchinsons, 
Henry Walker, Rev. William Blythe, the Copelans, Gentry, a 
leading singer at Liberty, and Jernigan. We could make this list 
much longer without putting down a family not entitled to high 
consideration for having contributed to the character of Crack¬ 
er’s Neck.” (Just here, the writer will try to add a few names 
that Dr. Yarbrough omitted, but who were prominently identi¬ 
fied with Cracker’s Neck; and should he omit some who ought 
to be mentioned, it will be due to his ignorance of that favored 
section prior to his becoming a citizen of Greene County—in 
the fall of 1889. The families whom I knew were; Moores, 
Parks, Betheas, Youngbloods, Roberts, Jernigans, Swanns, Har¬ 
wells, Callahans, Hudsons, Bryants, Wrights, Merritts, Row¬ 
lands, Veazeys, Jacksons, Ruarks, Browns, Rainwaters, Leslies, 
Crossleys, Pourols, Atkinsons, Lawrences, Owens, Monforts, 
Gentries, Cawthons, Turners, Lundys, Winns, Rileys, Cliftons, 
Halls, Williams, Parrotts, Slaughters, Brewers, Moons, Baughs, 
Robins, Bushes, Parkers and others whom I do not recall. By 
including the Wards and Armors, Dr. Yarbrough fixes the up¬ 
per boundary of Cracker’s Neck by the old Greensboro-Park’s 
Mill Road, and since U. S. Senator William C. Dawson desig¬ 
nated his Greensboro home as the apex we feel justified in 
saying that all the above were, “Cracker’s Neckers.” As to the 
origin of the name “Cracker’s Neck”, Mr. E. W. Copelan says: 
“The tradition handed down through his family dates back to 
the days when tobacco was the money crop in this region, and 
when the tobacco was ready for market, it was packed in hogs¬ 
heads with an iron axle through the center, to which shafts 
were attached, and oxen supplied the motive power that drew 
the precious cargo to the Augusta market. Rawhide whips with 
long crackers were used to tickle the necks of the oxen as they 
plodded along this wearysome journey; and as they approached 


482 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


the muddy-streeted little city of Augusta, the street urchens 
would yell out, “Here comes the boys from “Cracker’s Neck,” 
with their tobacco.” The “Tobacco Road,” made infamous by 
Erskine Caldwell, pulls off to the right from Route No. 12 just 
as you pass the unpaved road that leads to Grovetown. The 
“Liberty Boys,” rolled their tobacco along the old Stage Coach 
route that crossed the Oconee at Park’s Mill and lead via 
Greensboro to Powellton, then on east to where it merges into 
old Route No. 12 some two miles east of Barnett. 

Again quoting from Dr. Yarbrough’s book, he says: “When 
couples got married, they had big wedding suppers and rousing 
infairs the next day. Cake is not piled up at weddings now as it 
was then and there on such occasions. There were no buffet 
luncheons, menus, or functions of any kind; and I want it dis¬ 
tinctly understood that those things did not originate in Crack¬ 
er’s Neck, with everything running to dishes of foreign names 
and to flowers and flourishes. The tables groaned under viands 
that allured the taste, substantial and delicious home-raised and 
homemade and home-named that made us feel, when it was all 
over like we had been somewhere and had gotten something 
worth going for and never to be forgotten.” (The writer en¬ 
joyed the hospitality of some of these “Cracker’s Neck,” homes 
almost fifty years ago, and can say, “Amen,” to what Dr. Yar¬ 
brough said about their bountiful tables and real hospitality). 

Referring to weddings Dr. Yarbrough wrote: “Well, all 
that was common in Cracker’s Neck in our day and time; and 
folks paid the preacher for marrying them, too. Every bride in 
those parts was worth it, and all this “Ell see you again” on the 
part of the festive groom was not in it. The service was recog¬ 
nized in heavier change than that, gold itself being considered 
none too good to invest in that part of the program.” Liberty 
Chapel was the outgrowth of a visit to that section by Bishop 
Asbury in 1799; a conference was held in Bush’s home (later, 
the home of the father of the late Hon. E. A. Copelan and his 
brothers John D. and Henry Copelan and their sisters, one of 
whom was the mother of Dr. E. G. Adams and Mrs. J. P. 
Brown; and in this home was born our fellow townsman Mr. E. 
W. Copelan, Mrs. L. S. Cawthon and their brothers and sisters. 
The old home was destroyed by fire many years ago. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


483 


Of this historic old church Dr. Yarbrough says: “Liberty 
Chapel was the center of attraction and influence in Cracker’s 
Neck. It was surrounded by thickly settled neighborhoods of the 
best people.” “I must be pardoned for doubting if any Church 
in Georgia ever exerted a more wholesome influence over people 
within its reach. And it had a good name at a distance as well as 
near.” In answer to Question 16, “When and where shall the 
next Conference be held? (Minutes of 1808), the answer was: 
South Carolina Conference, Georgia, Liberty Chapel.” The 
Conference was held by Bishop Asbury in a farmer’s home (Mr. 
Bush, later, the Copelan home), in a house now gone by fire. 
At this conference Lovick Pierce was ordained deacon. It was 
an inspiring place for George F. Pierce f his son and a native of 
Greene County, to preach his first sermon.” (Liberty Church 
Conference) 

“The mourners’ bench,” was born at Liberty Chapel. A 
noted revivalist, Rev. Stith Mead, was conducting a meeting of 
great power. His custom was to talk privately to every one 
under conviction, to make the way of the Spirit clear. But at 
Liberty the work pressed him until he was forced to adopt 
another method. So he invited all with such experience to come 
to the front seats, where he might instruct all together as he had 
been instructing them individually. It proved most helpful; 
and, of course, others followed his example. Finally the custom 
drifted into going up to the front to be prayed for; and we have 
the “altar” or the “mourners’ bench,” as we have been pleased 
to call it.” 

“In 1871, while on the Greensboro charge, Dr. John Curt- 
right, then advanced in years, and a noble specimen of Meth¬ 
odist manhood, told me that Judge A. B. Longstreet gave him 
this history and told him that it was the beginning of what 
afterwards took the form of going up for prayer.” 

Liberty Chapel still survives; but most of those whose 
names are mentioned above, lie in the near-by “city of the 
dead”. And the once populous and wealthy neighborhood is well- 
nigh deserted. Mr. Samuel P. Turner, Miss “Minnie” Monfort, 
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Winn, Mr. John D. Gentry, “Tal” Lewis 
and perhaps, a few others are all who are left of those who wor- 


484 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


shipped there in the long ago, however, many of the descend¬ 
ants of old Liberty Chapel saints live in Greensboro, White 
Plains, Siloam, Union Point and other parts of Greene County; 
and not a few have gone to enrich Atlanta and other cities of 
this and other states. 

So firmly were the seeds of Methodism planted in Crack¬ 
er’s Neck, that no other denomination has ever gotten a foot¬ 
hold. Her erstwhile citizens have been an honor to society where- 
ever they have gone. 

JUDGE GARNETT ANDREWS AND HIS RECORDED 
MEMORIES OF OLD BETHESDA CHURCH 

By T. B. Rice 

In a recent article I tried to picture a scene around old 
Bethesda Baptist Church, in Greene County; and the vehicle 
described belonged to none other than Judge Garnett Andrews. 
When I wrote the story I did not know that Judge Andrews 
had written a book and described the conveyance that he called 
a “chair” (pronounced it cheer) and which had been built for his 
mother to attend Baptist “meetings” in, therefore, I feel that 
I should correct the few mistakes made in my description of the 
rig that created a sensation at old Bethesda soon after the turn 
of the past century; and will let Judge Andrews tell the story 
as it actually occured. His book was published in 1870 by the 
Franklin Steam Printing Co., of Atlanta, Georgia, although, 
his manuscript was written many years before. I quote from 
chapter 1. and only such paragraphs as have to do with the 
times, people, customs and political situation as they were in 
Greene County, between the years 1802 to 1830. I am indebted 
to a Greene County lady, now residing elsewhere, for excerpts 
from Judge Andrews’ books, and my only regret is she does 
not wish me to use her name. 

Quoting from p. 9: “An old friend of Judge Andrews, 
like many other people, was bewailing the degeneracy of the 
times, but more particularly the consequences of making a new 
county, Taliaferro, in the limits of which he had been caught. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


485 


Somehow or other he connected, not only his own, but the mis¬ 
fortunes of the country with the county lines which had been 
drawn around him.” 

“The extreme limits of five counties made the new one; 
and in them living remotely from towns, (Taliaferro was form¬ 
ed out of parts of Greene, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Warren and 
Wilkes counties, in 1825, were free from the vices and extrav¬ 
agances of such corrupting neighborhoods, and were of the great 
est simplicity and purity of manners, as will appear in the con¬ 
versation I had with the old friend by my fireside one winter 
night. I will give after many years, what I remember of his 
yarn.” 

“My parents were from old Virginia and were of the Bap¬ 
tist persuasion. My father was what was then called, an old 
peach brandy Baptist; by which I mean he made peach brandy. 
My recollections go back to about the time of the closing of 
the African slave trade, in 1808, when the country was full of 
“outlandish” or “new negroes” as they were called. I remember 
how many professed to be “Princes” and “Princesses” in their 
native country, how they had marks of distinction on their 
flesh, as they said; how many destroyed their lives to return 
in spirit, to their own country; how some large slaveholders ar¬ 
rested it (the suicidal tendancy) by cutting off the head of a 
suicide, telling them he would return to his country without it, 
and that he would decapitate all self-destroyers in the same 
way; of how some trader had given his purchased servants 
pants to hide their nakedness, and on the next morning found 
them tied around their necks as ornaments; how one ran away, 
got frostbitten, and cut off his feet and placed them before 
the fire to get warm.” 

“I remember the War of 1812, with its privations and 
hardships, how I was going to school, cyphering in long divi¬ 
sion, learning grammar and thought to be a prodigy of learning, 
at a house on the great public road leading from Augusta to 
Washington to Greensboro; how the mailman came to Wash¬ 
ington once a week, stayed all night and went thirty miles the 
next day to Greensboro, with all the letters and papers for all 
the country in a pair of common saddle-bags; how the news 


486 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


was a month coming from the “Niagara Frontier”; how my 
father took two newspapers, the only ones to be had for miles 
around; how the neighborhood came to hear the news; and 
how the school boys all admired the brave mail boy.” 

“The only festivities in the country were corn shuckings 
and Baptist meetings, as they called them then, for the Bap¬ 
tist “crab grass” had taken all the land then cleared in the 
country.” 

“In the country where I was raised, remote from towns 
and villages, the big Baptist “meetings” were the only other 
convivial gatherings, I say convivial, not because there was as 
much deep religious exercise as I ever saw, but because it was 
for these occasions the turkeys, eggs and fatted calves were kept 
to entertain friends coming from a distance. It was going to 
and coming from these “meetings” that all the courting of the 
young people was done. One of the most dexterous and admired 
feats of gallantry was for a young spark to cut out his rival, 
that is to ride between him and his girl as their horses watered 
at the creek or some other sought for occasion.” 

“My mother was a pious and very religious Baptist wom¬ 
an whose main enjoyment in life was attending Baptist “meet¬ 
ings.” My father, an enterprising well-to-do man, had made 
her what she called a chair (pronounced “cheer”), afterwards 
a gig. It was constructed of ash by a common wagon maker of 
the country, without springs, and painted blue, like the wagons 
and split bottom chairs so common throughout the Southern 
country; the body was what I think is called a stool body, after 
the fashion on old sulkies. My father had almost everything 
manufactured on his plantation; among the rest, his own flax, 
leather and shoes. Dick, his shoemaker made the harness for 
the chair. Some of the negroes on the plantation made the 
“wahoo” collar. The reins I do not recollect, but have no doubt 
they were a pair of cotton plow lines. Whatever moderns may 
think of the turnout thus far, we had a splendid docile gray 
horse that could rival the best of his successors now. The gray 
was hitched to this spanking new equipage, and I, then in Robin- 
hood, was selected to drive mother to her old “meeting house” 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


487 


(Whatleys, now Bethesda) in this the first wheeled vehicle, 
made as a luxury for riders that had ever approached its sacred 
precincts.” 

“Tom Hunt, a boy a few years older than I had aroused 
the envy, not to say hatred, of all the boys for wearing to 
school a pair of coarse boots, made by Jack, his father’s shoe¬ 
maker. The pleasure of the ride with whip in hand, had been 
delicious, but as I passed Tom with his boots, I had a feeling 
of triumph that was new and delightful. This was the begin¬ 
ning of the triumphs of that great day of my life. I took pains 
to drive up as near the front door of the “meeting house”, as 
it was then called, as propriety would permit, to an end, that 
my turnout might be seen by everybody in general, and Jinny 
Shotwell in particular, who I thought had looked with tender 
emotions on Tom’s boots the Sunday before.” 

“The morning sermon was, as usual long, to me, an age 
in length. When it ended the congregation dispersed to get 
water, eat lunch, but above all to see the great show in the 
churchyard. Soon there was a large crowd gathered around 
the “chair” that would not be considered large enough for an 
apple cart. Old Elijah Dearing, a very tall man with a walking 
stick, was the leading surveyor in examining the strange con¬ 
trivance. Just before, I had noticed that Jinny had passed by 
and lingered too to admire. Tom was standing by and he look¬ 
ed as enviously at the “chair” as I had at his boots. After Mr. 
Dearing had looked at and shaken the thing, he straightened 
up, tapped a spoke with his long stick and exclaimed, “Well! 
Well! What will this world come to next?” Then my feelings 
were worth five dollars a minute, and though I am near my 
three score and ten, I have not been as happy since.” 

“During the War of 1812, all the goods we received in 
the interior of Georgia came out of the peddlers wagons from 
the New England States, and in a few wagons that carried cot¬ 
ton to Baltimore (600 miles) and returned laden with mer¬ 
chandise. There was a merchant in the neighborhood named 
Shorter, who had a daughter, Kate, who, through the peddlers 
of her father’s wagons, had become the owner of a parasol, 
the first that had ever been seen in all that vicinity, and the pos- 


488 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


session of which had made her odious among the girls, as Tom 
Hunt’s boots had made him with the school boys. 

Though every damsel in the neighborhood was plaiting 
oat straw bonnets and spinning jeans cloth, to buy a parasol, 
they had been diligently engaged in ridiculing Kate’s “rag,” 
which it seems she stretched and flourished on every possible 
occasion. She was in danger of having an edict of ex-communi- 
cation issued against her by the feminines visiting that church; 
until my dear old mother came to her relief, for she soon made 
a diversion in Miss Kate’s favor. The envy and ridicule of the 
sisterhood were now turned against the owner of the “chair”. 
The doctrine of election and final perseverance forbade that 
she should have “fallen from grace” but she had become “too 
proud and worldly minded for a Christian,” and they were 
greatly “hurt.” 

“As my good and inoffensive mother made a diversion 
for poor Miss Kate, so the leading Baptist preacher came to 
her relief. He was deputed by the church to attend a Conven¬ 
tion or some other Ecclesiastical body, at Philadelphia, when 
he too had a “chair” made for him and his wife to take the 
journey in. He left in a shallow breasted jeans coat which all 
the preachers wore then, and in warm weather laid off in the 
pulpit, and his wife a plain ribbon in her bonnet; but to the 
great scandal of religion, he returned with satin lapels to his 
broadcloth coat, and she, not only with colored ribbons, but 
colored bows and flowers on her new bonnet. On this greater sin 
luminaries of the church, my dear mother was almost forgotten 
and was suffered to travel to all the big meetings in compara¬ 
tive peace.” 

“If these old preachers did fight the devil with coats off, 
it was to some purpose, for I’ve never known a more religious 
and moral community, nor one more deeply impressed with the 
truths of the Bible and religion, than the people under their 
ministrations.” 

“Those were the days of the double log cabins and sand¬ 
ed floors; of burnished pewter plates displayed in the sun to 
passersby on a shelf at the front door, and to visitors on an 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


489 


open sideboard in the principal room in the house; and of tink¬ 
ers with their packs on their backs, to mend such wares as might 
be broken, and to mold new ones for the thrifty housewives. 
I have not seen a pewter plate nor a tinker within these new 
county lines since they were run.” 

“Those were the days when the land was fresh from the 
hand of God, no sedge, no Bermuda grass, and the rivers and 
creeks were full of shad and other fish.” 

“If a young man wished to marry he went to the other 
side of the spring or another site on his father’s abundant, 
cheap, rich virgin soil; built his log cabin, cleared a turnip 
patch and cowpen, and went to multiplying and replenishing 
the earth. Since these new county lines the country is scarred 
with red gullies, the cane, forests and fish are gone, and if a 
young man marries he may expect to feed his children on red 
clay and blackberries. “They got their new county and not only 
reaped these bitter fruits, and many others that I can mention, 
but have lost their simple industrious habits. The boys must 
quit the plow and go to town, and learn to drink, dance and 
play cards. Because they have a courthouse, neighbors who 
used to settle their little disputes in the church, have gone to 
the law. One half bought drygoods and liquor, bad liquor at 
that, and the other half went to buying (spending) and drink¬ 
ing and they all went broke; brethern who had belonged to the 
same church and lived neighbors all their lives without an unkind, 
word, went to lying and fighting over the new county offices. 
And here we are, once the happiest and most independent people 
in the world, now the most miserable set of poor devils on 
earth, and all on account of these new county lines they have 
run around us.” “Here my friend groaned aloud, refilled his 
pipe, and in his agony of soul pufed smoke like a steam engine.” 

“In corroboration of my old friend’s account of the sim¬ 
plicity of his neighbors, of a half century since “Bob Martin” 
late clerk of the Supreme Court of the State, who lived in 
Greene County (Greensboro), and not more than ten or twelve 
miles from my old friend, said that the Methodists turned the 
principal citizens of the county out of their church for buying 
a hundred pounds of sugar at a time.” 


490 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


“He told in his inimitable way how the congregation of a 
country church was broken up by a pair of silver plated stirrup- 
irons. This was so-rated about and disputed by some, who said 
that extravagant as he might be, and fine as his horse was, he 
could not be such a spend-thrift as to throw his money away as 
foolishly as that. Others taking the affirmative side with equal 
warmth; it occasioned a stirrup and antistirrup dispute in the 
community that would have caused great strife had events not 
soon put the question to rest. It was known that the prodigal 
had gone to Augusta to sell his cotton, and on his return would 
be at a certain country church within the memory of its oldest 
inhabitant. The preacher did not commence his sermon until 
some half hour after the usual time, for the expected beau had 
not arrived, and knowing the expectations of the large congre¬ 
gation in attendance, he waited. The important gentleman wish¬ 
ing to crate as great a sensation as the splendor of his equipment 
would justify, had delayed his arrival until everyone should be on 
the grounds. After the preacher had commenced the services, 
the silverplated stirrups with the beau came. Tying his horse in 
a conspicious place, first one saw and went to examine the 
wonder and then another and another, until the preacher was 
left without a congregation.” 

Judge Garnett Andrews 

GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON VISITS GREENSBORO 
j f i (By T. B. Rice ) 

The writer has, on more than one occasion, referred to 
General Andrew Jackson’s visits to Greensboro, Ga., but these 
references were based upon tradition rather than a printed 
account. However, the following account of one of his visits 
should remove all doubt and prove to the most skeptical, that 
his visit proved to be a great social event in our town. 

From at least two reliable sources-Judge George Hillyer 
and George Paschall, author of “Rachel Paschall, Ninety-Four 
Years” we lear that General Andrew Jackson had three uncles 
living in this section, and one of them, the father of Gwynn Al¬ 
lison, lived about two miles from Greensboro, in a house that 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


491 


is now owned by Mrs. John T. Boswell, and known as the 
Felix Malone place. This home is located on the old Greens- 
boro-Union Point road that crosses the Georgia Railroad at 
Gheesling’s pecan grove. 

The hotel where General Jackson was given a banquet was 
located on the lot where the new Municipal Auditorium now 
stands, and was a famous hotel that was owned and operated 
by Thomas W. Grimes, Greensboro’s “Merchant-Prince” of 
that period. 

At the time of General Jackson’s visit Greensboro had a 
population of around 600 people-more than half of whom were 
colored. Most of the homes occupied an entire city block-in¬ 
cluding vegetable and flower gardens, servants quarters, barns 
and stables. Of the homes that were here when General Jack- 
son was entertained, there are a few still standing and are oc¬ 
cupied; they are, the homes of Mrs. Sanford Taylor, Judge 
Pierce Brown, the old Miller home opposite Mr. L. S. Caw- 
thon’s home, Mrs. T. B. Rice’s home, the old home opposite 
the Ford Garage-known as the Vincent home, the old Jonas 
Fauche home-now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Davidson, 
the old home known as the Mitchell lot, and the old rock jail, 
and perhaps, the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Toney, also, the 
old Foster home which is now the Baptist Pastorium. 


492 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GREENE COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS 
1785 - 1873 


Bride & Groom 


Date & Minister 


AARON, Edward S. 

June 24, 1860 

Martha Ann Mullins 

James M. Kelly 

AARON, George W. 

September 6, 1860 

Mary Susan Taylor 

AARON, Thomas D. 

November 2, 1858 

Martha J. Mitchell 

J. H. Bragg 

ABEL, William A. 

January 24, 1839 

Eliza Reid 

James W. Godkin 

ABERCROMBIE, Anderson 

February 24, 1819 

Sydney Grimes 

Lovick Pierce 

ACREE, Tames M. 

December 1, 1841 

Sarah Smith 

ADAIR, Robert 

August 28, 1800 

Babsy Reid 

ADAIR, Virgil J. 

March 26, 1868 

Mary F. Crawford 

Thos. P. Sanford 

ADAMS, John 

March 5, 1804 

Patsey Johnson 

ADAMS, William 

November 2. 1820 

Rachael Sweeney 

ADAMS, William E. 

November 18, 1874 

Sallie E. Copelan 

W. R. Johnson 

ADERHOLD, John H. P. 

June 5, 1866 

Anna N. Arnold 

Hart C. Peek, O. M. 

ADKINS, Booker 

July 6, 1832 

Adaline Tuggle 

John Armstrong 

ADKINS, Joseph * 

October 1, 1818 

Mary Lanford I 

Thomas Stocks 

AIKENS, William 

January 25, 1821 

Betsy Ann Grigsby 

O. Porter 

AKERS, John 

December 4, 1827 

Rebecca Turner 

William Bryan 

AKERS, Samuel 

February 28, 1828 

Nancy Robins 

William Bryan 

AKIN, Edmond 

October 13, 1830 

Sarah Ann Veazey 

John Harris 

AKINS, Elijah 

February 7, 1822 

Eliza Ball 

John Harris 

AKINS, Henry T. 

February 28, 1869 

Eliza J. Daniel 

Wm. A. Overton 

AKINS, James 

March 17. 1800 

Nancy Ivey 

AKINS, James 

March 4. 1818 

Betsy Cooper 

AKINS, Joseph 

April 23, 1818 

Mary Rea 

Lemuel Greene 

AKINS, William A. 

October 2, 1856 

Elizabeth Andrews 

W. D. Murden 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


493 


ALDRIDGE, Samuel P. 

Sarah Ann Furlow 
ALFRIEND, Benjamin 
Margaret Simonton 
ALFRIEND, Benjamin O. 

Eliza J. Smith 
ALFRIEND, Edward W. 

Mary E. Dunn 
ALFRIEND, William L. 

Sarah Frances Dunn 
ALFORD, Bertus 
Mary Boone 
ALFORD, Briton 
Betsy Brassel 
ALFORD, Chinchez 
Deany Wooten 
ALBRITTON, Ansel M. 

Evalina J. Macon 
ALEXANDER, Rinardo B. 

Harriet C. Dolvin 
ALEXANDREW, Joseph K. 

Patience T. Alfriend 
ALFORD, Julius 
Eliza Cook 
ALFORD, Lodowich 
Judith Jackson 

ALFORD, William H. 

Georgiana J. Mullins 
ALFORD, Zaboch 
Perrien Sherrill 
ALLEN, Benjamin W. 

Martha J. Barnhart 
ALLEN, Dickson E. 

Nancy C. Jackson 
ALLEN, E. M. 

Eliza Catherine Park 
ALLEN, James 

Sultana Broadway 
ALLEN, John 
Eliza Carleton 
ALLEN, John 
Polly Jackson 
ALLEN, J. H. 

Missouri A,. Hooks 
ALLEN, Josiah 

Rachel Colclough 
ALLEN, Pleasant Josiah 
Martha Pyron 
ALLEN, Stephen 
Martha Pyron 
ALLEN, W. A. 

Martha A. Jackson 


August 27, 1836 
Calb M. Key, M. G. 

October, 7, 1837 
John G. Holtzclaw 
December 22, 1863 
John W. McCrary, M. G. 

January 4, 1841 
F. R. Golding 
February 22, 1842 
F. R. Golding, M. G. 
October 1, 1801 
W. Stocks 
March 19, 1805 
Thos. Crawford 
January 18, 1806 

January 20, 1856 
T. D. Martin, M. G. 
September 12, 1843 
Wesley P. Arnold 
December 19, 1844 
John Howell 
March 14, 1821 
Lovick Pierce 
May 16, 1798 

January 5, 1858 
T. D. Martin, M. G. 
November 3, 1814 
Evans Myrick 
August 15, 1860 
James H. Kilpatrick 
June 7, 1859 
L. B. Caldwell 
August 5, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
August 2, 1824 

March 20, 1805 

January 31, 1828 
Joshua Cannon 
December 21, 1869 
L. B. Caldwell 
November 18, 1824 

June 11, 1832 
Thos. W. Grimes 
June 14, 1830 
Thos. W. Grimes 
January 2, 1872 
L. B. Caldwell 


494 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ALLEN, Wiley 

Penelope Powers 
ALLISON, Reuben 
Lousiana King 
ALLISON, William 
Martha Price 
ALLISTON, William P. 

Martha A. Walton 
ALLRED, William 
Jane Park 

ALLRED, William H. 

Sarah F. Rowland 
ALSTON, Willis 
Elisa Howard 
ALVIS Ashley 

Catherine Alclntosh 
AMMONS, Richard 
Rebecca Watson 
AMOSS, George M. 

Patience A. Smith 
ANDERSON, Bazor 
Sarah Houghton 
ANDERSON, Elijah 
Phebe Clarke 
ANDERSON, Henry 
Nancy Chapman 
ANDERSON, John 
Elizabeth Lewis 
ANDERSON, John M. 

Elvira O’Neal 
ANDERSON, Joseph 
Sarah Riley 
ANDERSON, Noah 
Susan Mahan 
ANDERSON, Stewart 
Mary Watson 
ANDERSON, Thomas 
Ann Murry 
ANDERSON, William 
Sarah Stephenson 
ANDERSON, William W. 

Anna I. Whitaker 
ANDERSON, William 
Adalade Tuggle 
ANDREWS, Adam 
Polly Brooks 
ANDREWS, Adam 
Martha Jane Oliver 
ANDREWS, Alexander 
Abby Atkinson 
ANDREWS, James 
Anne Greenwood 


April 19, 1821 
Francis Cummins 
July 7, 1836 
Geo. F. Pierce 
June 4, 1822 
Robert Booth 
April 16, 1848 
Hinton Crawford 
February 23, 1825 
John Webb 
May 23, 1865 
Jefferson Wright 
December 18, 1828 
Lovick Pierce 
September 16, 1825 
John Dawson 
December 9, 1830 
George Hall 
September 2, 1865 

December 15, 1788 

May 27, 1830 
George Hall 
October 11, 1838 
Ephraim Bruce 
May 26, 1831 
J. P. Leveritt 
February 2, 1845 
James I. Findley 
September 10, 1834 
James Anderson 
October 16, 1836 
Wilson S. Bishop 
February 20, 1840 
Thomas Stocks 
July 29, 1829 
William Bryan 
February 2, 1819 
Francis Cummins 
January 9, 1843 

August 5, 1857 
William R. Cox 
April 26, 1815 
C. Maddox 
January 28, 1847 
J. L. Veazey 
September 21, 1806 
Jesse Lacey 
January 14, 1844 
Wesley P. Arnold 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


495 


ANDREWS, Lunceford M. 

Jedidah E. Moore 
ANDREWS, Matthew 
Susan Jones 
ANDREWS, Rohow 
Sara N. Landrum 
ANDREWS, Rohow 
Mary Ann Hodge 
ANDREWS, William R. 
Martha Ellis 

ANDREWS, William N. 

Nancy C. Deivaney 
ANSLEY, William 
Nancy Thompson 
ARDIS, John 

Patsey Stallings 
ARKWRIGHT, James 
Sarah Pendergrass 
ARMOR, James 
Rachel Phillips 
ARMOR, James N. 

Adrian W. Moore 
ARMOR, John 

Nancy Caldwell 
ARMOR, Reuben B. 

Mary S. Park 
ARMOR, William 
Sarah Brown 
ARMOR, William 
Martha A. Riley 
ARMOR, William 

Arthanetia R. Walton 
ARMOR, William B. 

L. M. Hutcheson 


November 20, 1866 
John O’Neal 
January 12, 1837 
James Moore 
April 6, 1845 
N. Hill 
July 9, 1848 
J. A. Williams 
May 8, 1845 
D. W. Mcjunkin 
December 15, 1859 
Littleton Caldwell 
December 6, 1827 
Robert Booth 
August 11, 1811 
W. Johnson 
September 18, 1823 
Thomas Johnson 
November 17, 1804 

February 22, 1849 
William Bryan 
November 18, 1788 

July 1, 1834 

June 23, 1814 
John Armor 
May 23. 1839 
U. C. Peurifoy 
November 14, 1850 
J. C. Simmons 
February 13, 1873 
J. M. Loury 


ARMSTRONG, James 
Mary Edmondson 
ARMSTRONG, Jesse M. 

Martha Culbreath 
ARMSTRONG, Jesse R. 

Oliver Baker 
ARMSTRONG, John 

Mrs. Mary C. Armstrong 
ARMSTRONG, William 
Lucy A. Crawford 
ARNOLD, Martin B. 

Nancy Jane Hunter 
ARNOLD, Solomon P. 

Margaret M. Brooks 
ARTHUR, George 

Mary C. S. Johnson 
ARTHUR, Thomas J. 

C. J. Freeman 


December 20, 1855 
P. H. Mell 
June 4, 1841 
N. H. Lumpkin 
November 30, 1866 
Henry C. Weaver 
November 15, 1865 
William R. Wilson 
January 4, 1866 
John W. Tally, M. G. 
September 23, 1866 
S. I. Owens 
May 24, 1832 
A. Greene 
January 1, 1871 
B. P. Taylor 
March 26, 1874 
W. A. Partee 


496 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ASBERRY, Henry 

Louisa McLane 

ASBURY, Jesse, 

Abagail Smith 

ASBURY, Redman 

Mary Sophronia Norton 
ASBURY, Richard 

Martha Collier 

ASBURY, Richard 

Sarah Watts 

ASBURY, Thomas 

Nancy Lyne 

ASHLEY, Charles E. 

Lucy B. Pierce 

ASHLEY, William 

Charlotte Dorchey 

ASHLEY, William 

Clarissa Keener 

ASHLEY, William 

Nancy S. Wright 

ASKEW, Ezekiel P. G. 

Cornelia F. Mullins 

ASKEW, James B. 

Eliza F. Veazey 

ASKEW, Joshua 

Elizabeth Atkinson 

ASKEW, William 

Cynthia Riley 

ASKEW, William 

Nancy Merritt 

ASTON, Robert 

Nancy Vaughn 

ASTON, William L. 

Sally Parrish 

ATKINS, Willis 

Priscilla D. Taylor 

ATKINSON, Isaac Parker 

Mary Rogers Moore 
ATKINSON, James C. 

Theodosia Wray 

ATKINSON, John 

Sally Moreland 

ATKINSON, Lazarus 

Elizabeth Echols 

ATKINSON, Nathan 

Polly Parker 

ATKINSON, Nathan L. 

Frances B. Slaughter 
ATKINSON, Thomas 

Mary Merritt 

ATKINSON, Thos. L. B. 

Elizabeth A. Bagley 

November 3, 1808 
Peter Joyner 
April 20, 1815 
Robert Rea 
July 29, 1841 
E. S. Hunter 
November 12, 1817 
Jesse Mercer 
December 26, 1819 
William Cone 
October 31, 1822 
Samuel Whateley 
February 18, 1841 
James Moore 
November 30, 1831 
Wootten O’Neal 
July 23, 1840 
N. P. Jarrell 
December 19, 1841 
James Moore 
January 17, 1860 
W. G. Johnson 
November 18, 1849 
Joseph R. Parker 
January 23, 1862 
W. G. Johnson 
January 3, 1831 
George Hall 
December 3, 1835 
Jas. Anderson 
June 5, 1827 
John Harris 
May 26, 1814 
Robert Rea 
December 31, 1815 
William Ray 
August 24, 1847 
J. L. Rowland 
September 13, 1857 
John H. M. Barton 
March 18, 1800 

July 11, 1837 
Ephraim Bruce 
May 28, 1813 
Robert Rea 
November 28, 1834 

October 27, 1842 
H. H. Lawrence 
March 2, 1848 
James B. Nickelson 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


497 


AUBREY, Lewis 
Dinah Harris 
AUTRY, Jacob 

Isabeller McClane 
AUTREY, O. P. 

Georgia Sanford 
AVERY, Joseph 
Mary S. Haynes 
AWTRY, John 
Martha Moore 
AWTRY, Reynolds 
Martha Carr 
AXSON, Samuel E. 

Margaret Jane Hoyt 
BABB, William 
Susanna Heard 
BACHELOR, Archibald 
Lucy Ann Mallory 
BACHELOR, Con 
(not shown) 
BACHELOR, Richard 
Ella Seay 

BAGBY, Charles L. 

Amanda M. Strange 
BAGBY, George E. R. 

Georgia A. P. Bowden 
BAILEY, Nathaniel 
Armietta Williams 
BAILEY, Samuel Armstrong 
Rebecca F. Lloyd 
BAILEY, Simon 
Faithey Parker 

BAKER, Christopher 
Nancy Daniel 

BAKER, Jonathan 
Mary Stallings 

BAKER, Silas 

Mary M. Walker 

BAKER, William 
Nancy Williams 

BAKER, William 
Rebeckah Howell 

BALDWIN, Benjamin 
Catherine Watson 

BALDWIN, Charles 
Susannah Love 

BALDWIN, David 
Eliza Owens 

BALDWIN, James 
Eliza White 


June 24, 1802 

May 20, 1829 

January 6, 1870 
Philip Robinson 
April 9, 1874 
John O’Neal 
January 20, 1820 
Malachi Murden 
February 9, 1820 
James Brockman 
November 23, 1858 
N. Hoyt, M. G. 
January 19, 1796 

December 22, 1831 
Thomas W. Grimes 
May 8, 1786 

September 14, 1869 
Philip Robinson 
February 9, 1865 
J. A. Preston, M. G. 
April 27, 1868 
Jas. W. Godkin 
July 22, 1849 
J. T. Findley 
May 19, 1831 
Lovick Pierce 
December 14, 1804 
B. Maddox 

December 20, 1805 

October 29, 1818 
Thomas Riley 

December 29, 1830 
S. M. Walhall 

September 24, 1805 

July 12, 1807 
James Holt 

January 4, 1802 

August 22, 1839 
Hinton Crawford, M. G. 

February 3, 1804 
March 13, 1804 


498 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BALDWIN, Joseph H. 

Harriett E. Edmondson 
BALDWIN, Robert 
Sarah Boning 
BALDWIN, Samuel 
Nancy Williams 
BALDWIN, Thomas B. 

Ann E. Skidmore 
BALDWIN, Thomas B. 

Frances I. Morris 
BALLARD, George 
Peggy Armour 
BALLARD, John 
Nancy McLain 
BALLARD, William 
Nancy King 
BARBER, Richard J. 

Ann Nicholson 
BAREFIELD, Arthur 
Sally Freeman 
BARFIELD, Sampson 
Mary Bell 
BARKER, James 
Eliz. Finch 
BARKER, William 
Nancy Hackney 
BARKSDALE, Greene B. 

Celia Connell 
BARKWELL, Julius 
Ruth Harper 
BARNES, Asa 
Mary A. Mapp 

BARNES, Asa 
Martha Mapp 

BARNES, Joshua 
Caroline Ledbetter 

BARNES, Samuel 
Elizabeth Barnhart 

BARNES, William H. 
Martha Ann McMillan 

BARNETT, John 
Sally Sorrell 

BARNETT, John 
Mary Willis 

BARNETT, William 
Betsey Johnson 

BARNHART, Bruce 
Christopher Smith 

BARNHART, Leroy 
Sarah Parker 


July 28, 1837 
James Moore 
December 22, 1788 

February 7, 1833 
B. M. Sanders 
February 14, 1837 
Vincent Thornton, M. G. 
December 10, 1840 
James Jones 
November 9, 1801 

June 8, 1807 
William Greer 
September 22, 1802 

October 29, 1840 
B. M. Sanders 
October 12, 1804 

April 1, 1847 

April 25, 1841 
James W. Godkin 
December 26, 1815 
Leml. Greene 
October 24, 1839 

November 20, 1818 
Jack Lumpkin 
September 27, 1849 
L. C. Peek 

January 13, 1853 
W. W. Moore 

November 28, 1865 
H. C. Peek, O. M. 

May 25, 1789 

August 5, 1841 
R. F. Griffin 

October 8, 1802 

November 8, 1827 
Edward Maxey 

August 29, 1804 

June 12, 1816 
Thomas Snow 

April 5, 1842 
James Moorf 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


499 


BARNHART, Seaborn R. 

Talula E. Alford 
BARNWELL, Alexander 
Catherine Watts 
BARNWELL, Benjamin F. 

Elizabeth Ann Parrott 
BARNWELL, Henry 
Maria Powers 
BARNWELL, Henry 
Delila Booles 
BARNWELL, Jesse S. 

Rachael Nesson 
BARR, Oliver 

Margaret Freeman 
BARRETT, John 
Lurany Lewis 
BARRON, Thomas 
Sally Clay 

BARROW, Cyrus B. 

Frances E. Williams 
BARRY, M. M. 

Lucretia Cook 
BARLETT, Abner 
Mary Chewning 
BARTON, Thompson 
Sarah Daniel 
BASS, James A. 

Caroline McMillan 
BATCHELOR, Jesse 
Sarah A. Grant 
BATES, Robert 
Patsey Campbell 
BATES, John 

Elizabeth Alford 
BATES, Nathaniel 
Nancy Channel! 

BATES, William 
Nancy Parker 
BATTLE, John 

Elizabeth Atkinson 
BAUGH, Abram 
Ridley Colley 
BAUGH, James E. 

Ada R. Smith 
BAUGH, Richard Henry 

Marceline A. Gresham F. 

BAUCHCUM, Aaron 

Mary Camp Wm. 

BAUGHCUM, Aaron 
Martha Holder 
BAUGHCUM, Penckney 

Susan Jane Connel Wm. 


December 19, 1875 
John T. Dolvin 
December 28, 1819 
Thomas Stocks 
July 3, 1866 
Philip B. Robinson 
January 31, 1822 

July 16, 1822 
Thomas Stocks 
October 6, 1858 
James L. Tarwater 
December 10, 1873 

February 1, 1831 
Butt L. Cato 
March 12, 1805 

April 19, 1851 
Hinton Crawford 
July 4, 1851 
J. W. Godkin 
January 22, 1807 
W. McBiboney 
November 18, 1860 
J. W. Godkin 
February 21, 1849 
L. B. Jackson 
December 11, 1856 
James L. Laurence 
July 13, 1821 
John Harris 
November 26, 1818 
Thomas Snow 
April 2, 1827 
Absalom Baugh 
November 4, 1827 
John Harris 
December 22, 1819 
Francis West 
July 18, 1852 
B. Rowland 
May 9, 1865 

May 12, 1858 
F. Reynolds, M. G. 

October 9, 1864 
M. Chapman, M. G. 

March 22, 1866 
Ezekiel L. Williams 
November 17, 1864 
M. Chapman, M. G. 


500 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BAUGHCUM, W. W. 

Anna Clifton 
BAXLEY, Aaron 
Nancy Howell 
BAXTER, William 
Sarah E. Oslin 
BAYNON, Watkins 
Ann Barnett 
BAYS, Joseph 

Edith Broadaway 
BEARDEN, Richard 
Elizabeth Patrick 
BEARDING, Arthur 
Rebekah McClendon 
BEARDS, Washington 
Nancy Phillips 
BEASLEY, Hiram 
Lewansa Duberry 
BEASLEY, William 
Nancy English 
BEASLEY, William 
Mary Forrester 
BEASLEY, William 
Rachel Robinette 
BEASLEY, 

Anna Watson 
BEATIE, John 
Anna Todd 
BEAVERS, Daniel 
Nancy Pursy 
BEAVERS, Nathan 
Sally Blurton 
BECK, T. J. 

Mary L. King 
BECKCOM, John 
Ruth Biddle 
BEDELL, John 
Susan Perdee 
BEDELL, Micajah 
Ann Smith 
BEEMAN, Henry 
Carolyn Myrick 
BEEMAN, Samuel H. 

Frances Julia Ann Cone 
BEGNON, Cassmere J. 

Mary Z. Johnson 
BELAND, James 
Easter McElroy 
BELL, A. H. 

Missouri Stephen 
BELL, James 

Sophia Woodham 


December 20, 1871 

January 4, 1805 

January 5, 1847 
H. H. Lawrence 
January 10, 1825 

July 27, 1823 
Nicholas Lewis 
October 31, 1829 

December 23, 1795 

December 28, 1808 
Thomas Crawford 
February 1, 1851 

June 5, 1805 

December 4, 1845 
E. S. Hunter 
September 23, 1794 

1801 

December 22, 1822 
Lovick Pierce 
November 19, 1799 

April 3, 1805 

December 16, 1869 
H. H. Tucker 
January 11, 1816 
Archibald Watts 
March 18, 1828 
R. Q. Dickinson 
October 14, 1831 
Vincent R. Thornton 
February 15, 1823 
Nathan Beeman, M. G. 
January 25, 1831 
Thos. W. Grimes 
March 16, 1871 
Philip Robinson 
February 2, 1806 

December 23, 1873 
W. A. Partee 
January 28, 1812 
Robert Rea 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


501 


BELL, James 

Virginia Ward 
BELL, Jarard 
Rody Smith 
BELL, John 

Mary Beasley 
BELL, Kendall 
Nancy Allen 
BELL, Nat. 

Elizabeth Weeks 
BELL, Pierce 

Margaret Daniel 
BELL, William 

Elizabeth Hopkins 
BELLAH, James W. 

Elizabeth G. McKowan 
BENEDICT, John G. 

Susan Bates 
BENHAM, Lyman 
Sarah King 
BENNETT, Charles 
Cynthia Carter 
BENNETT, Elias L. 

Emaliza L. Harper 
BENNETT, James 
Laura Dobbs 
BENNETT, James A. 

Talitha C. Brazzell 
BENNETT, Reuben 
Jane Lindsey 
BENNETT, Reuben 
Sarah Forrester 

BENNETT, Reuben 
Elizabeth Mitchell 

BENNETT, Riley W. 
Louiza Cosby 

BENNETT, William 
Peggy Hogg 

BENT, John 
Mary Buzby 

BERGER, Seaborn 
Josephine Wood 

BERRY, Carey W. 

Mary J. Tuggle 

BERRY, Charles S. 

Mary E. Booles 

BESHELL, Hezekiah G. 
Elizabeth Fambro 

BESSENT, Abraham W. 
Lucindia E. Wright 


September 18, 1859 
R. B. Kelly 
December 9, 1811 
W. Johnson 
March 1839 
John Harris, M. G. 
January 9, 1856 
G. H. Thompson 
September 8, 1787 

December 27, 1846 
R. F. Griffen 
December 20, 1821 

February 27, 1845 
Hinton Crawford, M. G. 
January 27, 1850 
James T. Findley 
November 24, 1818 
W. Cone 
May 28, 1854 
R. Rowland 
September 14, 1863 
E. A. Burgess 
June 3, 1855 
B. Rowland 
October 4, 1859 
Homer Henbee, M. G. 
November 1, 1819 

June 19, 1845 
E. S. Hunter 

October 26, 1848 
Elisha Hunter 

April 3, 1864 
A. W. Rowland, M. G. 

April 23, 1804 

December, 1838 

December 6, 1870 
W. C. Birchmore 

May 21, 1868 
William A. Overton 

May 7, 1861 
Vincent Thornton 

December 24, 1844 
James T. Findley 

April 22, 1866 
A. W. Rowland, M. G. 


502 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BETHUNE, Lauchlen 
Allatha Greer 
BETHUNE, Lauchlin 
Sallie Fitzpatrick 
BETHUNE, William M. 

Elizabeth S. Hester 
BETTIE, William H. 

Elizabeth C. Grimes 
BICKERS, Benjamin F. 

Cordelia E. Colclough 
BICKERS, Joseph 
Elizabeth Stewart 
BICKERS, Lewis 
Nancy Cartwright 
BICKERS, William 
Nancy Ivy 

BICKERS, William C. 

Almira Sophronia Arnold 
BIDDLE, Macajah 
Lavinia Sharrel 
BILLUPS, Thomas 
Elizabeth Victory 
BIRD, Joseph 

Lucretia Watson 
BIRD, Michael 

Susannah Levine 
BISHOP, Asa 
Nancy Garrett 
BISHOP, J. J. 

Amelia Red 
BISHOP, Lafeyette 
Martha C. Hix 
BICE, Charles 

Malissa Williams 
BISHOP, Wilson S. 

Panthes T. Thompson 
BLACK, Carwell B. 

Sarah Ann Smith 
BLACK, George 
Mary Ralls 
BLAIR, Thomas 
Polly Wall 

BLANKENSHIP, John 
Mahala Caldwall 
BLANKS, Demsey 
Mary A. Hill 
BLANKS, William 
Jane Hill 

BLANKS, William 
Narcissa Young 
BLANTON, W. M. 

Julia Thompson 


September 14, 1802 

March 8, 1815 
James Martin 
June 28, 1826 

March 14, 1865 
M. W. Arnold, M. G. 
December 4, 1860 

May 26, 1818 

February 8, 1795 

January 2, 1834 
Thomas Stocks 
October 14, 1858 
L. B. Jackson 
December 15, 1819 
William Cone 
January 30, 1828 
Lovick Pierce 
December 11, 1828 
James Park 
October 11, 1818 
Robert Booth 
February 6. 1809 
George Stovall 
February 19, 1847 
Peter Whelan (Catholic Priest) 
November 3. 1867 
Wm. H. Thrasher 
October 15. 1854 
W. S. Partee 
April 30, 1833 
H. Pendergrass, M. G. 

April 24, 1834 
Caleb W. Key, M. G. 
February 16, 1840 
Francis Bowman 
December 23, 1795 

December 24, 1833 
James Moore 
January 11, 1818 
Robert Rea 
September 25, 1799 

November 8, 1819 
James Riley 
November 6, 1840 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


503 


BLASSINGAME, James T. 

Evaline C. Greer 
BLEDSOE, Aaron 
Elizabeth Stocks 
BLEDSOE, John 
Elizabeth Autrey 
BLEDSOE, Joseph 
Elizabeth Greer 
BLEDSOE, William 
Pamsly Ann Booth 
BLITCH, Joseph L. 

Martha A. Beazley 
BLOUNT, Whitfield L. 

Della Whitehead 
BLYTHE, James 
Doly Credille 
BLYTHE, Leroy 

Betsy Caroline Wars 
BLYTHE, William H. 

Betheney Ward 
BOGGS, Samuel 
Polly Kent 
BOLES, Jackson 
Betsey Lindsey 
BOLKS, Turner 

Frances Greene Robertson 
BOLING, John S. 

Anne W. Nancy 
BONES, John H. 

Peggy Burns 
BOOKE, Samuel 

Elizabeth Stokely 
BOOLES, Allen 
Averylla Broach 
BOOLES, Bevan 
Charity Yewen 
BOOLES, Jackson 
Nancy Brooks 
BOOLES, Jeremiah 
Sarah Malone 
BOOLES, John 
Mary Bennett 
BOOLES, John A. 

Rebecca Hackney 
BOOLES, William T. 

Martha Williams 
BOOLES, Willoughby 
Sarah Ann Wilson 
BOON, Alfred C. 

Martha Ann Barnhart 
BOON, Francis M. 

Harriett A. Greene 


September 25, 1834 
Thos. W. Grimes 
July 30, 1808 
William Browning 
December 28, 1820 
L. B. Johnson 
December 30, 1819 
James Brockman 
October 21, 1823 
John W. G. Greer 
October 5, 1863 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 

March 5, 1876 
R. L. Burgess 
September 15, 1806 

April 7, 1829 
William Bryan 
July 26, 1832 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 11, 1793 

January 8, 1812 
Lemuel Greene 
October 25, 1823 

February 7, 1833 
Abraham Yates 
June 22, 1796 

November 28, 1799 

December 12, 1815 
Lauchlin Bethune 
January 8, 1828 
Abraham Yeats 
November 16, 1845 
Jeremiah Lindsey 
January 5, 1846 
Samuel Ely 
November 12, 1822 
John Booles, Sr. 
September 13, 1849 
E. S. Hunter 
November 14, 1837 
B. M. Sanders 
August 4, 1836 
Vincent H. Thornton 
August 29, 1833 
James Moore 
August 12, 1834 
Abraham Perkins 


504 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BOON, Jesse 
Sarah Hicks 
BOON, Sion 

Gilly Hawkins 
BOON, 

BOONE, Allen R. 

Marietta R. Hightower 
BOONE, Benjamin 
Betsey Alford 
BOONE, Benjamin 
Dorothy Fay 
BOONE, David L. 

Mary Christopher 
BOONE, John D. 

Mary Hood 
BOONE, Warren J. 

Rebecca Runnels 
BOOTH, Beverly 
Sarah Ansley 
BORGUST, Robert 
Phoebe Fuller 
BOSTWICK, Nathan 
Lucy Burk 

BOSTWICK, William 
Jane Smith 

BOSWELL, Reuben B. 

Narcissa A. Mayo 
BOSWELL, William J. 

Josephine Malone 
BOWDEN, Elliot C. 

Frances Heard 

BOWDEN, George Thomas 
Cynthia W. Shirlin 

BOWDEN, Richard 
Martha Cartwright 

BOWDEN, Robert C. 
Elizabeth Jackson 

BOWDEN, Robert C. 
Frances L. Arnold 

BOWDEN, William 
Pamelia Bell 

BOWDEN, William 
Sarah Jones 

BOWDEN, William 
Mary Broach 

BOWEN, T. J. 

Lurana H. Davis 

BOWLES, Henry 
Lucenla Bowles 


April 5, 1824 

November 26, 1804 

December 5, 1844 
E. S. Crumner 
March 19, 1867 
William Bryan, M. G. 
April 22, 1810 
Isaac Cook 
May 28, 1824 

January 28, 1841 

V. R. Thornton 
December 2, 1858 

Carlos W. Stephens 
December 2, 1841 
E. S. Hunter 
July 29, 1819 
Robert Booth 
July 12, 1821 
Abraham Teates 
November 17, 1819 
William Cone 
March 6, 1823 
John Harris 
December 16, 1869 

W. A. Overton 
June 11, 1862 

H. H. Tucker, M. G. 

September 22, 1842 
James Jones, M. G. 

November 15, 1846 
William Bryan 

February 6, 1848 
Issac Williams 

January 25, 1844 
J. W. Godkin 

November 20, 1856 
J. P. Duncan, M. G. 

August 9, 1820 

October 30, 1833 

December 22, 1844 
E. S. Hunter 

May 31, 1853 
Charles M. Irwin, M. G. 

August 4, 1835 
Jesse H. Watson 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


505 


BOWLES, Henry 
Mary Narmer 
BOWLES, Jesse 
Sally Anderson 
BOWLES, Jesse B. 

Jane Bennett 
BOWLES, John 

Sally Blasingame 
BOWLES, Littleberry 
Cena Cochrane 
BOWLES, Thomas 
Acintha Cothrine 
BOWLES, William 
Jincey Wade 
BOWLES, William H. 

Nancy H. Cartwright 
BOWLES, William V. 

Margaret M. Dennis 
BOYCE, George 
Jimmy Greer 
BOYCE, 

Polly Davis 
BOYKIN, Leroy H. 

Laura E. Hunter 
BOZEMAN, James 
Margaret Shelton 
BRACK, Willim H. 

Nancy Crossley 
BRADLEY, Charles A. 

Emaline Harris 
BRADLEY, Harrelson 
Agnes Rice 
BRADLEY, John 
Rachel Wester 
BRADDY, John 
Asenath Wright 
BRADDY, Joseph E. 

Mary E. Turner 
BRADSHAM, Asa 
Polly Carol 
BRADSHAW, Elijah 

Sarah Frances Coffield 
BRADSHAW, Brastus 
Elizabeth Findley 
BRADSHAW, George 
Dulsey McCain 
BRADSHAW, George 
Rhoda C. Askew 

BRADSHAW, William 
Susan Bridges 

BRADSHAW, William 
Letia Shields 


September 22, 1872 
W. A. Moore 
March 24, 1802 

August 26, 1833 

March 8, 1800 

August 29, 1833 
Nathan Hobbs 
April 1, 1819 
William Tuggle 
December 18, 1805 

August 19, 1875 
A. J. S. Jackson 
February 10, 1864 
V. R. Thornton 
August 17, 1803 

April 23, 1803 

February 3, 1859 
T. J. Bowen, M. G. 
February 20, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
March 12, 1871 
N. M. Jones 
July 7, 1859 
Chas. W. Launius 
October 19, 1799 

August 6, 1802 

January 7, 1847 
Hinton Crawford 
December 2, 1869 
C. D. Mitchell 
June 30, 1803 

November 16, 1873 
W. A. Partee 
February 27, 1838 
J. L. M. Porter 
November 20, 1838 

June 13, 1862 
J. W. Godkin 

March 19, 1872 
Rev. J. S. Potter 

December 30, 1873 
M. A. Partee 


506 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BRAGG, Mathew 
Anne Cheney 
BRAGG, Thomas 

Lovinia Lunceford 
BRANCH, John 

Sarah Broughton 
BRANCH, Robert M. 

Margaret S. Wier 
BRANCH, William H. H. 

Sarah Margaret Robinson 
BRASSEL, James 
Sally Davis 
BRASWELL, Isom 
Mary Morris 
BREWER, David 
Polly Parker 

BREWER, George Washington 
Julia Priscilla Bruce 
BREWER, Henry 
Lukey Mitchell 
BREWER, Wiley 
Mary Clements 
BREWER, William 
Polly Harper 
BREWER, William 
Polly Moore 
B RIANT, John 
Mary Copeland 
BRICE, Alfred 

Martha Williams 
BRIDGES, Ezekiel 
Frances Slaughter 
BRIDGES, Ezekiel J. 

Elizabeth T. Smith 
BRIDGES, Hardy 
Nancy Copelan 
BRIDGES, James 
Nancy Rowland 
BRIDGES, James 
Susan Copeland 
BRIDGES, John J. C. 

Mary Anne Credille 
BRIDGES, Robert C. 

Elizabeth F. Copelan 
BRIDGES, William 
A. H. Copelan 
BRIMBERRY, Matthias 
Betsey Hinton 
BRISCOE, John 
Elizabeth Dunn 

BRISCOE, Lucius M. 

Ann Catherine Strozier 


January 6, 1804 

December 28, 1797 

January 21, 1830 
Adeil Sherwood 
May 31, 1854 
W. A. Florence 
December 6, 1864 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 

April 16, 1805 

April 6, 1806 

April 21, 1804 

December 25, 1872 
N. M. Jones 
August 31, 1800 

April 4, 1854 
Benjamin Merritt 
November 11, 1799 

December 2, 1810 
Arthur Foster 
March 4, 1830 

December 11, 1845 
Ephraim Bruce 
October 14, 1845 
J. C. Lucas 
June 24, 1849 
William Bryan 
December 17, 1822 
Henry Slaughter 
August 30, 1827 
E. Tally 
October 27, 1831 
Lewis Parker 
February 5, 1852 
Hardy Bridges 
June 6, 1850 
Hardy Bridges 
May 12, 1850 
John Copelan 
April 10, 1827 

April 22, 1858 
John W. Reid, M. G. 

May 10, 1850 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


507 


BRICOE, Thomas 
Sarah F. Cheney 
BRITAIN, Henry 
Louisa Booker 
BRITTON, William 
Nancy Farris 
BROACH, Alexander 
Nancy Durham 
BROACH, James 
Lucenda Yeats 
BROACH, J. E. 

Sallie Lankford 
BROACH, William 
Polly Sherrill 
BROACH, William H. 

Margaret Davidson 
BROADDUS, Thomas 
Agnes Fielder 
BROCKMAN, Moses 
Penelope Bunch 
BROOK, James 
Julia Reynolds 
BROOK, James E. 

Eliza Anne Johnson 
BROOK, John F. 

Celestia M. Sayers 
BROOK, John S. 

Nancy A. Reynolds 
BROOKS, Archibald D. 

Frances D. Turnell 
BROOKS, Archibald 

Mrs. Lucy A. Cramer 
BROOKS, Augustus G. 

Emaline F. Ellis 
BROOKS, Covington 
Nancy Walker 
BROOKS, Jesse 
Elizabeth Watts 
BROOKS, Peter R. 

Fraucina Creddille 
BROOKS, Thomas 
Polly Jackson 
BROOKS, Wilson L. 

Julia Fort 

BROOME, Alpheus 
Josephine Anderson 
BROOME, Lucius 
Elizabeth Irby 
BROOX, Henry 
Sarah Broox 
BROUGHTON, Edward 
Sarah Ann Lackey 


July 14, 1851 
Dabney P. Jones 
September 6, 1825 

January 25, 1852 
H. C. Peek, M. G. 
December 18, 1836 
John G. Holtzclaw 
October 28, 1824 

November 12, 1874 
John T. Dolvin 
December 24, 1811 
William Cone 
June 30, 1872 
John R. Young 
December 4, 1798 

October 17, 1819 
Lemuel Greene 
February 17, 1834 
Nathan Hobbs 
May 20, 1844 
J. M. Davison 
January 5, 1857 
Thomas Callahan 
August 1, 1860 

October 28, 1850 
H. C. Peek 
December 1, 1859 
Hart C. Peek 
October 20, 1843 
W. C. Veazey 
May 30, 1833 
J. P. Leveritt 
August 15, 1823 

January 1, 1843 
R. F. Griffen 
March 26, 1815 
John Riley 
January 10, 1860 
T. J. Bowen 
October 8, 1868 
C. A. Mitchell 
April 3, 1860 
William A. Corry 
November 20, 1824 

January 7, 1829 


508 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BROUGHTON, Edward 
Essey Broughton 
BROUGHTON, John R. 

Genett L. Broughton 
BROUGHTON, John T. 

Anne America Perkins 
BROWN, Benjamin 
Nancy Newby 
BROWN, Benjamin F. 

Tennessee King 
BROWN, Burwell 
Fanny Brown 
BROWN, Charles 
Amanda Bennett 
BROWN, Daniel 
Adeline Wilson 
BROWN, Ezekiel 
Elizabeth Merritt 
BDOWN, Ezekiel 
Emily Greene 
BROWN, Ezekiel 
Hannah Oslin 
BROWN, James L. 

Julia Martin 
BROWN, Jesse F. 

Lillie B. McElroy 
BROWN, John 
Burchet Baxter 
BROWN, Joseph H. 

Lavenia Smith 
BROWN, Thomas 
Mary Foster 
BROWN, Thomas 
Eliza A. Merritt 
BROWN, William 
Amanda Gray 
BROWN, William A. 

Mary E. Littleton 
BROWNING, Daniel 
Nancy Sorrell 
BROWNING, Nathan P. 

Eunice Haralson 
BRUCE, Abner W. 

Rebecca Bridges 
BRUCE, Anderson 
Mary A. Ward 
BRUCE, Benjamin F. 

Martha A. Allen 
BRUCE, Edward D. 

Mrs. Patience A. Clifton 
BRUCE, Ephriam 
Priscilla Richards 


May 22, 1838 
Thomas Stocks 
May 8, 1833 
George Heard 
August 26, 1843 
Francis Bowman 
February 25, 1815 
Gilly Moore 
November 19, 1833 
Thomas W. Grimes 
June 6, 1798 

November 14, 1869 
Philip Clements 
October 10, 1858 
James Davison 
December 15, 1803 

December 1. 1825 

August 2, 1827 
E. Tally 
December 19, 1843 
P. H. Nell 

May 18. 1865 

May 2, 1814 
Joseph Tarpley 
September 12, 1871 
B. L. Hulme, M. G. 
November 4, 1829 

January 21, 1853 
John R. Young, M. G. 

July 14, 1824 

April 2, 1854 
J. R. Hall 
July 12, 1808 
William Browning 
July 27, 1815 
Thomas Stocks 
January 16, 1843 
Francis Colley 
December 30, 1847 
H. H. Laurence 
December 17, 1871 
L. D. Caldwell 
December 19, 1865 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
November 21, 1822 
John Harris 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


509 


BRUCE, Ephrain H. 

Sarah M. Moon 
BRUCE, Henry C. 

Mattie. L. Chapman 
BRUCE, James 
Della Richards 
BRUCE, James 
Sarah Ransom 
BRUCE, James 

Mrs. Mary A. Bridges 
BRUCE, James R. 

Jane E. Lucas 
BRUCE, James S. 

Mary Lewis 
BRUCE, Joel 

Charlotte L. Lewis 
BDUCE, John 
Tempy Sayers 
BRUCE, Jonathan 
Martha Shell 
BRUCE, Seaborn M. 

Catharine Cruse 
BRUCE, Turned 
Martha Thigpen 
BRUCE, Wilson 
Allah Gatlin 
BRUNT, James 

Elizabeth Caldwell 
BRUNT, John 

Patience Rowland 
BRUNT, Williby 
Nancy Caldwell 
BRYAN, Asbury 

Mary Ann Tarpley Ward 
BRYAN, James 

Mary Ann Clark 
BRYAN, James P. 

Lucenda Oliver 
BRYAN, Jesse M. 

Mary Ann Oliver 
BRYAN, Littleton J. 

Martha Bryan 
BRYAN, Nathan 

Mary Ann Griggs 
BRYAN, Richard 

Sarah Ann Oliver 
BRYAN, Thomas M. 

Sallie F. Morris 
BRYAN, William 
Martha Tarpley 
BRYAN, William 

Elizabeth Langford 


April 13, 1852 
A. A. V. Carroll 
May 12, 1872 
W. C. Blythe, M. G. 
May 2, 1816 
Walker Lewis 
October 13, 1833 
James Moon 
September 13, 1866 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
December 19, 1844 
Francis S. Colley 
December 12, 1844 

January 20, 1835 
Ephraim Bruce 
August 28, 1827 
John Armstrong 
June 2, 1844 
Ephraim Bruce 
December 7, 1847 
Francis S. Colley 
May 16, 1852 
B. Rowland 
December 17, 1829 
J. P. Leveritt 
July 31, 1834 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 5, 1825 

August 31, 1836 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 19, 1826 
T. W. Slaughter, J. P. 
November 18, 1830 
W. M, Bryan 
February 13, 1868 
William Bryan, M. G. 
June 12, 1868 
Alex H. Smith 
May 17, 1835 
William Bryan 
July 4, 1837 
Ephraim Bruce 
October 20, 1836 
Ephraim Bruce 
November 14, 1866 
Wm. A. Overton 
January 21, 1840 
James Jones 
December 16, 1841 


510 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BRYAN, William 

June 28, 1855 

Sarah Tarpley 

J, P. Duncan, M. G. 

BRYAN, William J. 

June 29, 1858 

Elizabeth Smith 

William Bryan 

BRYANT, Charles J. 

December 20, 1875 

Nancy L. Simmons 

Hart C. Peek 

BRYANT, John O. 

April 10, 1836 

Patsy Gentry 

B. Rowland 

BRYANT, Russell 

December 22, 1824 

Sydney Martin 

BRYANT, Whit 

February 25, 1875 

Laura Moore 

John S. Callaway 

BYCE, William C. 

December 21, 1874 

Emeline R. Coffield 

BYNUM, James R. 

July 1, 1852 

Lucy A. A. Houghton 

W. A. Corry 

BYRD, William 

June 6, 1825 

Mary Hudson 

BUCKING, Peter 

March 26, 1820 

Sarah Furlow 

William Cone 

BUCKNER, David 

May 8, 1802 

Betsey Findley 

BUGG, Hampton C. 

April 24, 1845 

Martha Moore 

I. N. Glenn, M. G. 

BUGG, Hampton C. 

November 9, 1847 

Sarah Moore 

Hinton Crawford 

BUGG, William B. 

May 16, 1867 

Mary C. Wheeler 

A. Nelson, M. G. 

BUNKLEY, Howell 

October 5, 1841 

Ruth Newsome 

Vincent R. Thornton 

BUNN, Aldridge 

March 22, 1831 

Catharine Palmer 

Ephraim Bruce 

BURDELE, Robert 

July 25, 1827 

Margaret Hays 

William Wingfield 

BURFORD, John 

January 5, 1815 

Edna Jackson 

John Browning 

BURFORD, John E. 

August 19, 1875 

Mary A. Bryan 

A. J. S. Jackson 

BURFORD, Leonard 

May 12, 1795 

Polly Smith 

BURGE, William 

January 29, 1833 

Milley Thompson 

James S. Park 

BURGER, Noah 

January 22, 1874 

Martha Jane Coffield 

W. A. Partee 

BURGESS, A. C. 

September 6, 1870 

Frances E. Freeman 

W. A. Colclough 

BUDGESS, Edward A. 

January 11, 1859 

Augusta E. Fambrough 

W. A. Partee 

BUGGESS, James D. 

December 22, 1857 

Satira J. Fambrough 

L, R. L. Jennings 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


511 


BURGESS, Jonathan 
Nancy Cone 
BURGESS, Robert L. 

Emma E. Fambrough 
BURGESS, Thomas L. 

Martha Wade 
BURGESS, William 
Adeline Stephens 
BURGESS, William 
Emaline Burger 
BURK, Columbus 
Elizabeth Foster 
BURK, James 

Martha A. Wynn 
BURK, Seaborn 
Elizabeth Adair 
BURKE, Charles I. 

Caroline Jenkins 
BURKE, James 

Martha A. King 
BURKE, Valerious J. 

Elizabeth Arnold 
BURNETT, David S. 

Agnes S. Tool 
BURNS, Owens 
Nancy Horn 
BURNS, Robert 

Elizabeth Greene 
BURROUGH, James 
Betsey Weathers 
BURT, Dr. H. L. 

Penelope Simonton 
BURTEN, William 
Martha Robertson 
BUSBY, John E. 

Adaline M. O’Neal 
BUSH, John 
Win. Alford 
BUSH, John 
Nancy King 
BUSH, John L. 

Mary A. Ashe 
BUSH, John T. 

Mary C. Stewart 
BUSS, William 

Betsey Maddox 
BUSSEY, James 
Elizabeth Lake 
BUTLER, Edward 
Fannie Garrett 

BUTLER, John T. 

Adaline Wray 


September 18, 1818 
Thomas Stocks 
December 9, 1866 
John B. Young, M. G. 
October 11, 1840 

I. M. Wilson 
October 8, 1867 
E. A. Burgess 

December 18, 1873 
W. A. Partee 
May 16, 1850 
Hinton Crawford 
October 1, 1847 

May 2, 1847 

November 1, 1823 
Thomas Johnson 
January 28, 1844 

J. W. Godkin 
March 24, 1856 

April 22, 1875 
P. H. McWhorter 
July 29, 1826 

January 9, 1806 

May 18, 1803 

July 16, 1845 
Francis Bowman 
July 20, 1826 

June 9, 1864 
L. D. Caldwell 
August 22, 1787 

March 27, 1804 

March 2, 1874 
Henry Newton 
November 4, 1875 
L. D. Caldwell 
April 19, 1810 
John Cox 
December 21, 1814 
C. Maddox 
April 9, 1788 

February 11, 1859 
E. A. Burgess 


512 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


BUTLER, John W. 

Elizabeth Hubbard 
BUTLORD, William 
Elizabeth Dilder 
CAGLE, Alexander 
Amanda Wright 
CAIN, Thomas L. 

Mary R. Swan 
CALDWELL, Augustus G. 

Frances Jernigan 
CALDWELL, Early 
Jane Peek 

CALDWELL, Early J. 

Nancy Jarrell 
CALDWELL, Elisha 
Susan King 
CALDWELL, James 
Nelly Shockley 
CALDWELL, Jonathan E. 

Martha Ann Peek 
CALDWELL, Joshia 
Mary Teppet 
CALDWELL, Joshua A. 

Eliza Ann Wright 
CALDWELL, Littleton 
Cynthia McHargue 
CALDWELL, Littleton D. 

Mary C. McLellan 
CALDWELL, Miles 
Mary Ann Caldwell 
CALDWELL, William 
Polly Parker 
CALDWELL, William 
Polly Woodward 
CALDWELL, Wm. H. 

Sarah T. Andrews 
CALHOUN, Londa 
Lucy Webb 
CALLAHAN, Andrew 
Alice Higgins 
CALLAHAN, Edward 
Mary Stevens 
CALLAHAN, Henry 
Rhoda A. Credille 
CALLAHAN, James W. 

Susan P. Brooks 
CALLAHAN, John 
Ann Stephenson 
CALLAHAN, William 
Elizabeth Wilson 
CLLAHAN, William 
Frances Hall 


March 15, 1824 

November 10, 1805 

November 23, 1847 

September 4, 1833 
James Moore 
August 9, 1849 
Wm. A. Corry 
March 31, 1844 
R. H. Mapp 
March 27, 1848 
Wm. A. Corry 
November 27, 1873 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
May 29, 1814 
W. M. McGiboney 
August 9, 1860 
W. W. Moore 
June 13, 1830 
John Harris 
January 19, 1865 
W. A. Partee 
September 4, 1825 
John Harris 
November 16, 1856 
J. A. Williams 
March 2, 1832 
Wooten O’Neal 
October 28, 1805 

November 1, 1820 
Wm. McGibony 
July 1, 1869 
L. D. Caldwell 
August 4, 1831 
George Hall 
December 1, 1838 
C. D. Kinnebrew 
December 20, 1815 
Francis Cummins 
December 6, 1849 
J. M. Kelly 
November 2, 1869 
L. M. Dickey, M. G. 
October 25, 1794 

March 20, 1821 
Jack Lumpkin 
December 18, 1845 
J. W. Godwin 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


513 


CALLAWAY, Lemuel L. 

Anna Josephine Mullins 
CALLAWAY, Lewis 
Mary Hunter 
CALLAWAY, Willis R. 

Margarite A. Willis 
CALLOWAY, R. S. 

Sarah Ann Calloway 
CALLOWAY, William 
Harriet A. Boone 
CALLOWAY, William R. 

Rhoda Ann Cheney 
CALWAY, Night 
Mary Connell 
CAMERON, Henry C. 

Mary E. Ware 
CAMPBELL, James 
Cintha Hill 

CAMPBELL, Obediah 
Luria Norris 
CAMPBELL, Samuel 
Charity Edwards 
CANE, Joseph C. 

Maria Louisa Compton 
CANE, William C. 

Mary J. Bennet 
CANNON, John 
Anne Pyron 
CANNON, Joshua 
Elizabeth Harris 
CAREY, James 

Martha Ann Littleton 
CARGILL, John 
Tabitha Babb 
CARLETON, James M. 

Mary Jane Wagnon 
CARLETON, James 
Lucienda Broach 
CARLETON, John W. 

Nancy Durham 
CARLETON, Larkin 
Eliza Boothe 
CARLETON, Larkin 
Rachel' Munfort 
CARLISLE, Brantlet 

Martha Higginbotham 
CARLTON, Archibald 

Emily Ann Crutchfield 

CARLTON, B. F. 

Frances B. Tuggle 
CARLTON, James S. 
Martha C. Jones 


December 23, 1863 
Nathan Crawford, M. G. 
November 1, 1824 

January 1, 1845 
Thomas Stocks 
January 22, 1846 
P. H. Mell 
June 15, 1851 
S. G. Hillyer 
January 17, 1838 
Reuben Owen, M. G. 
December 31, 1799 

February 29, 1872 

July 18, 1807 
Claborn Maddox 
April 17, 1825 

May 28, 1801 

December 22, 1859 
R. B. Kelly 
June 14, 1860 

R. B. Kelly 
November 3, 1831 

John Park 
June 24, 1819 
John Wilson 
January 20, 1853 
J. L. Billingslea 
April 14, 1800 

December 17, 1838 
Walter Branham 
September 10, 1843 
John Robins 
October 31, 1834 
Thomas W. Grimes 
February 20, 1812 
Lovick Pierce 
May 25, 1822 
Lovick Pierce 
August 4, 1854 

January 26, 1825 

June 8, 1854 

S. G. Hillyer 
August 23, 1854 

James S. Kay, M. G. 


514 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


CARLTON, John T. 

Margaret Daniel 
CARMICHAEL, Arden Evans 

(?) 

CARMICHAEL, John 
Adeline Seymour 
CARMICHEL, Oswell E. 

Georgiana Hicks 
CARMICHAEL, Reuben 
Sidney Frances Parker 
CARR, Elijah W. 

Anna E. Macon 
CARR, Elisha 
Nancy Taylor 
CARR, James 

Frances O’Neal 
CARREL, Starling 
Anna Richards 
CARROLL, Allison J. 

Elizabeth Mapp 
CARROLL, Allison J. 

Sarah Veazey 
CARROLL, Charley 
Sally Johnson 
CARROLL, David 
Barbara Richards 
CARROLL, Harwell 
Elizabeth Parker 
CARROLL, John 
Nancy Gatling 
CARROLL, John D. 

Emoline Humphrey 
CARROLL, John D. 

Frances Hardeman 
CARTER, Benjamin F. 

Martha F. Wilson 
CARTER, Benowne 
Elizabeth Bryant 
CARTER, Hezekiah 
Margaret Brunt 
CARTER, John 
Sarah Stevens 
CARTER, John B. 

Georgiana L. Gresham 
CARTER, Joseph 
Lucy Jones 
CARTER, Joseph W. 

Dicey White 
CARTER, Joseph 
Mary Smith 

CARTER, Josiah Anthony 
Louisa A. Northern 


October 13, 1859 
George C. Clarke 
January 15, 1806 
Thomas Crawford 
July 9, 1855 

October 22, 1868 
E. W. Speer, M. G. 
September 12, 1847 
J. L. Rowland 
December 19, 1860 
N, M. Crawford, M. G. 
February 16, 1832 
Nathan Walker 
December 10, 1849 

September 15, 1806 
John Mapp 
April 30, 1840 
James Moore 
December 5, 1848 
J. J. Loudermilk 
April 3, 1804 

March 21, 1804 

October 10, 1803 

September 19, 1800 

August 12, 1833 
James Moore 
May 6, 1857 
L. D. Caldwell 
October 27, 1868 
E. A. Burgess 
August 29, 1818 
Robert Booth 
September 30, 1839 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 7, 1819 
Robert Moore 
May 21, 1851 
Francis Bowman 
April 28, 1820 
George Watkins 
March 29, 1827 
E. Tally 
September 8, 1829 
John Chew 

June 17, 1851 
E. G. Hillyer 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


515 


CARTER, William 
Sarah Jones 

CARTWRIGHT, James H. 

Adeline Copeland 
CARTWRIGHT, John 
Martha Hay 

CARTWRIGHT, John A. 

Emeline W. Lewis 
CARTWRIGHT, John B. 

Margaret Burford 
CARTWRIGHT, John B. 

Mary E. Lawrence 
CARTWRIGHT, Jones 
Jinny Bickers 
CARTWRIGHT, Joseph 
Terrissa Richards 
CARTWRIGHT, Miles 
Maria Car- 

CARTWRIGHT, Peter, Jr. 
Betsy Shaw 

CARTWRIGHT, William B. 

Elizabeth Jane Barker 
CARSON, William E. 

Caroline F. Broughton 
CASH, Elbert L. 

Caroline Foster 
CASSEUS, William Bass 
Ann Octavia Nickelson 
GATCHINGS, Jo 

Parmelia, Stephens 
CATCHINGS, J. W. T. 

Matilda Jane Thompson 
CATCHINGS, John W. T. 

Elizabeth W. Sanders 
CATCHINGS, Joseph 
Loveny Duncan 
CATCHINGS, Joseph 
Julia L. Cone 
CATLIN, Abejah 
Mary Simonton 
CATO, George F. 

Sarah F. M. Head 
CATO, William 
Ariadue Kinney 
CATO, Wyche 
Patsy Peoples 
CATREHEAD, John 
Phebe Foster 
CAUSEY, Phillips 
Sarah Laws 
CAWTHON, John W. 

Mary A. E. Barnhardt 


May 11, 1824 

October 6, 1850 
John C. Merritt 
June 23, 1800 

November 16, 1837 
James Moore 
December 19, 1836 
William Rowland 
December 16, 1844 
Ephraim Bruce 
April 19, 1804 

August 28, 1838 
James W. Godkin 
November 25, 1829 
John Harris 
April 22, 1801 

January 22, 1843 
John Veazey 
December 24, 1835 
Thomas Stocks 
November 6, 1834 
Wm. E. Adams 
July 25, 1854 
G. F. Pierce 
November 8, 1802 

October 10, 1850 
Hinton Crawford 
February 11, 1847 
Hinton Crawford 
March 8, 1825 

December 29, 1836 
J. T. Crawford 
July 5, 1838 
Frances Bowman, M. G. 

March 6, 1864 
E. S. Williams 
June 14, 1863 
E. S. Williams 
January 26, 1803 

December 2, 1807 
William Johnson 
September 3, 1822 
William Winfield 
December 1, 1858 
George C. Clarke 


516 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


CAWTHON, J. W. 

Nannie Barnhardt 
CHAFIN, Thomas 
Sarah G. Taylor 
CHAMBERS, John Finch 
Emily Adalene Hall 
CHAMBERLAIN, Elliot R. 

Mary K. Watson 
CHAMPION, Henry W. 

Lucinda P. King 
CHAMPION, James D. 

Mary S. Janes 
CHAMPION, Jesse 
Louisa Jackson 
CHAMPION, Jesse W. 

Mary V. Champion 
CHANDLER, Daniel B. 

Georgia A. Moss 
CHANDLER, Walton 
Martha Hamilton 
CHANNELL, Isham 
Nancy Howell 
CHANNELL, Littleton 
Sally Skinner 
CHANNELL, Littleton 
Nancy Tolver 
CHANNELL, Michael 
Tibathy Marchman 
CHANNELL, Michael 
Sarah Westbrook 
CHANNELL, Thomas 
Elizabeth Montgomery 
CHANNELL, William 
Elizabeth Wilson 
CHANNELL, William H. 

Georgia Ruake 
CHAPMAN, John M. 

Martha Crews 
CHAPMAN, John M. 

Sarah E. Jones 
CHAPMAN, John 
Sarah Ann Everett 
CHAPMAN, Miles 
Margaret Harper 
CHAPMAN, Randle 
Elizabeth Tally 
CHAPMAN, Randol 
Nancy Perkins 
CHAPMAN, Thomas 
Catherine Bruce 
CHAPMAN, William M. 
Sarah C. Lewis 


December 17, 1868 
J. J. Jones 
December 27, 1824 

March 7, 1835 
James H. Taylor 
April 10, 1854 
Samuel K. Talmadge 
September 9, 1852 
T. W. Wilkes, M. G. 
May 19, 1864 
N. M. Crawford 
November 8, 1827 
William Austin 
July 20, 1870 
R. A. Johnson, M. G. 
April 5, 1866 
James Davison 
August 27, 1845 
W. A. Florence, M. G. 

May 2, 1830 
T. Wright 
November 29, 1804 

March 24, 1832 
John Copeland 
May 16, 1831 
Butt L. Cato 
July 18, 1833 

January 17, 1835 

September 19, 1826 
Butt L. Cato 
January 21, 1868 
John C. Merritt 
January 1, 1838 
Ephraim Bruce 
May 27, 1855 
Benjamin Merritt 
February 12, 1860 
James W. Wragg 
March 4, 1864 

July 23, 1822 
Stephen Hightower 
May 30, 1833 
J. P. Leaverett 
May 25, 1848 
Ephrain Bruce 
December 14, 1837 
Ephraim Bruce 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


517 


CHAPMAN, William M. 

Jeanett Norris 
CHAPMAN, William 
Amanda Allen 
CHAPPELL, John 
Anne Forrester 
CHAPPELL, Robert 

Martha Frances Quill 
CHATMAN, Miles 
Mary C. Wiggins 
CHEATHAM, Lovera B. 

Emma A. Printup 
CHEEK, Asbill 

Elizabeth R. Bennett 
CHENEY, Enoch R. 

Sarah H. English 
CHENEY, John F. 

Martha E. Wilson 
CHENEY, William O. 

Mary F. English 
CHESTER, Francis 
Ann G. Neal 
CHEVES, Adoniram J. 

Anna M. Sanford 
CHEVES, Grief 
Betsy Parker 
CHEVES, Joseph 

Mary E. Stubblefield 
CHEW, John 

Ann Montford 
CHEW, Thomas J. 

Mary Jane Fountain 
CHEWNING, William I. 

Parmelia Adams 
CHINN, Charles C. 

Sarah E. Strozier 
CHRISTOPHER, Henry 
Mary Bugg 

CHRISTOPHER, Seaborn 
Ollie Mayhan 

CHRISTOPHER, William 
Nancy Parker 

CHRISTOPHER, William H. 

Martha H. Johnson 
CHRISWELL, John 
Martha J. Norris 
CHRISWELL, William 
Nancy Bennett 
CLARK, Arthur 
Agnes Hall 

CLARK, Benjamin 
Mary I. Woodard 


May 10, 1857 
Hart C. Peek 
September 30, 1859 
R. B. Kelly 
April 12, 1820 
William Cone 
January 8, 1854 
W. A. Florence 
March 1, 1868 

A. H. Smith 
June 15, 1875 

E. W. Speer, M. G. 
January 6, 1848 
Wm. F. Gaston 
October 5, 1852 
P. H. Nell, M. G. 
January 8, 1857 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
April 7, 1857 
J. R. Young 
January 17, 1832 
Raleigh Greene 
December 15, 1863 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 
November 8, 1808 
W. M. McGiboney 
October 15, 1846 
Wm. I. Parks 
December 15, 1814 
Thomas Stocks 
December 9, 1852 
Jas. M. Kelly 
February 28, 1826 

December 5, 1867 

December 22, 1872 

B. P. Taylor 
August 22, 1822 
Robert Newsome 

December 29, 1829 
John Copeland 
December 4, 1868 

April 26, 1866 
Wm. Chapman, M. G. 
August 22, 1866 
E. T. Williams 
July 18, 1799 

October 28, 1847 
Hinton Crawford 


518 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


CLARK, James 
Sally Robinson 
CLARK, J. S. 

Betsey Prince 
CLARK, William J. 

Martha A. Lawrence 
CLARKE, Francis A. 

Sarah E. West 
CLARKE, William 
Frances Penny 
CLAY, Samuel 

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick 
CLAYTON, Phillip 
Leonora Harper 
CLEMANCE, Ellis 
Martha Merritt 
CLEMENTS, Aaron 
Hannah Clements 
CLEMENTS, Anderson 
Lucy Burford 
CLEMENTS, Anderson 
Eliza Rhodes 
CLEMENTS, Franklin 
Louiza Channel 
CLEMENTS, Jesse 
Jane Rhodes 
CLEMENTS, Peyton 
Polly Ward 
CLEMENTS, Peyton 
Mary Tyler 
CLEMENTS, Peyton 
Elizabeth Wright 
CLEMENTS, Phillip 
Elizabeth Howell 
CLEMENTS, Phillip 
Sara Blythe 

CLEMENTS, William B. 

Malissa Jackson 
CLEPSON, Daniel 
Eliza Ledbetter 
CLEVELAND, Larkin 
Sally Buchanan 
CLIFTON, Alanson 
Nancy Marchman 
CLIFTON, Charles 
Winney Kinney 
CLIFTON, John R. 

Sarah Ruarks 
CLIFTON, William 
Martha Watson 
CLIFTON, William 
Patience Kinney 


October 26, 1810 
Robert Rea 
August 2, 1803 

February 16, 1847 
William Bryan 
December 16, 1875 
C. C. Davison 
December 20, 1827 
E. Talley 
February 7, 1803 

May 2, 1837 
George F. Pierce 
December 7, 1871 
W. H. Wright 
June 20, 1796 

December 19, 1834 
Francis West 
December 11, 1862 
James M. Kelly 
October 30, 1866 
John C. Merritt 
September 24, 1851 

December 1, 1808 
Francis P. Martin 
September 2, 1824 

January 16, 1845 
Ephraim Bruce 
October 8, 1803 

October 5, 1841 

February 5, 1867 
William Bryan 
July 4, 1826 

September 16, 1802 

March 4, 1847 
R. L. Clifton 
January 10, 1849 
W. T. Gaston 
January 20, 1873 
L. D. Caldwell 
October 13, 1824 

January 27, 1848 
W. F. Gaston 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


519 


COATS, James 
Elizabeth Laws 
COBB, John 

Mary Grimes 
COCHRAN, James M. 

Elizabeth Hutchinson 
COCHRAN, John 
Peggy Dorough 
COCHRAN, John 
Martha Bridges 
COCHRAN, Samuel 
Sally Furlow 
COCHRAN, Samuel 
Judith Gentry 
COCRAFT, James 
Caroline B. Lewis 
COFER, Lewis C. 

Elizabeth Mills 
COGEN, Jacob M. 

Harriet Cook 
COLBERT, Frederick 
Tempey Powers 
COLCLOUGH, John M. 

Fannie J. Boswell 
COLCLOUGH, William A. 

Matilda J. Moore 
COLE, Thomas 
Elizabeth Tally 
COLEMAN, Daniel 

Clarendia A. R. Randle 
COLEMAN, Samuel 
Sally Evans 
COLEMAN, Thomas 
Jane Trimble 
COLEY, John 

Eliza Ann Swan 
COLEY, John C. 

Catherine Marchman 
COLEY, John 

Catherine Bruce 
COLEY, William 

Mary Bivins Wood 
COLLIER, Edwin 
Henrietta Brown 
COLLIER, James 
Frances Brown 
COLLIER, Thomas 
Mary Williams 
COLLIER, Williamson 
Sarah Denson 

COLLINS, James 
Rebecca Carr 


August 31, 1831 
Matthew Winfield 
December 2, 1819 
F. Cummins, M. G. 
February 8, 1853 
J. W. Yarbrough 
November 10, 1803 

January 22, 1852 
L. B. Jackson 
March 23, 1802 

September 26, 1841 
J. M. Wilson 
November 9, 1833 
Wm. S. Parks, M. G. 
May 15, 1842 
James Davidson 
January 15, 1837 
James Moore 
January 3, 1816 
Archibald Watts 
February 5, 1874 
Henry Newton 
November 12, 1854 
W. H. C. Cone 
August 12, 1801 

January 7, 1824 
Adieil Sherwood 
July 4, 1805 

April 2, 1805 

June 1, 1835 

December 1, 1837 

January 24, 1869 
W. H. Blythe 
January 13, 1828 
J. P. Leveritt 
July 7, 1829 
James Osgood Andrews 
June 14, 1820 
David White 
January 9, 1811 
Josiah Randle 
November 28, 1822 
John W. Grier 

December 21, 1826 
Joseph Wright 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 




520 


COLLINS, Jones 

May 3, 1819 

Sophronia Wright 

John Wilson 

COLLINS, Nathaniel 

November 25. 1818 

Elizabeth Coleman 

John Wilson 

COLLINS, Richard 

January 23, 1859 

Elizabeth M. Porter 

J. M. Kelly 

COLON, James 

January 22, 1825 

Elizabeth P. Furlow 

COLWELL, Edward 

September 22, 1812 

Polly Payne 

Elias Bell 

CONDON, William D. 

March 26, 1856 

Anna A. Statham 

Francis Bowman 

CONE, Ezekiel 

January 25, 1810 

Margaret Bethune 

W. McGiboney 

CONE, Francis 

January 8, 1829 

Jane W. Cook 

Francis Cummins 

CONE, James T. 

December 23, 1833 

Martha A. Boon 

Elijah E. Jones 

CONE, Rich 

October 29, 1794 

Patsey Perkins 

CONE, Robert 

September 20, 1872 

Barby Ann Kinnebrew 

N. R. Polk 

CONINE, Richard 

April 20, 1804 

Patsey Boon 

CONINE, William 

December 26, 1839 

Eliza Swindall 

Hinton Crawford 

CONLEY, S. W. 

December 4, 1873 

Mary F. Cochran 

P. H. McWhorter 

CONNELL, Daniel 

October 28, 1849 

Nancy Hammond 

John C. Merritt 

CONNELL, Hartwell 

February 18, 1865 

Sarah Ann Kinney 

E. S. Williams 

CONNELL, John 

January 30, 1801 

Sarah Awsby 

CONNER, Abel C. 

September 28, 1843 

Maria D. Hightower 

Ephraim Bruce 

CONNER, Burill 

February 16, 1848 

Lucinda Ivey 

L. B. Jackson 

COOK, Emory 

October 19, 1815 

Nancy Keaton 

Walker Lewis 

COOK, James 

September 11, 1808 

Elizabeth Ransom 

Francis Ross, M. G. 

COOK, Jasper T. 

June 25, 1874 

Henrietta Porter 

John R. Young 

COOK, John 

January 16, 1823 

Lucy McCain 

George Watkins 

COOK, John R. 

February 11, 1873 

Cornelia Sayers 

H. C. Peek 

COOK, Joseph 

October 11, 1818 

Anne Curtis 

Hinton Crawford 

COOK, Joshua 

March 15, 1831 

Mary Figgs 

Ephraim Bruce 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


521 


COOK, Joshua 
Martha Bruce 
COOK, Thomas 
Elizabeth Stone 
COOK, Thomas 
Mary Colquitt 
COOK, William 

Frances Anne Walker 
COOPER, Amos 
Gedida Bradshaw 
COOPER, Thomas B. 

Carrie A. Stow 
COOPER, William 
Betsey Rhodes 
COPELAN, A. H. 

A. M. Maddox 
COPELAN, Daniel E. 

Elizabeth J. Lundy 
COPELAN, Elias D. 

Judy Sandera 
COPELAN, John 
Elizabeth Wood 
COPELAN, John 
Nancy Williams 
COPELAN, John M. 

Annie V. Copelan 
COPELAN, John D. 

Sarah E. Wynn 
COPELAN, Major 
Adeline Alfriend 
COPELAN, Miles G. 

Ellen J, O’Rear 
COPELAN, Obadiah 
Sarah R. Credille 
COPELAN, Obadiah G. 

Sarah Elizabeth Lundy 
COPELAN, Obadiah G. 

Mary J. Lundy 
COPELAN, Rowan 
Parmelia Winslett 
COPELAN, Thomas M. 

Mary A. N. Walker 
COPELAN, Wiley R. 

Antoinette W. Downing 
COPELAND, Alexander 
Julia A. Tuggle 
COPELAND, Archibald H. 

Agathy Ledbetter 
COPELAND, Coalson 
Martha Richards 
COPELAND, Jasper 
Mary E. Furlow 


August 4, 1831 
Ephraim Bruce 
November 30, 1809 
H. Ransom 
August 25, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
October 17, 1844 
E. R. Thornton 
January 21, 1821 
Davy Perrill 
May 20, 1856 
P. H. Nell 
December 20, 1811 
William Janes 
April 8, 1875 
John T. Dolvin 
February 27, 1873 
John D, Copelan 
July 21, 1834 

December 22, 1822 
Stephen Hightower 
May 17, 1827 
John Harris 
December 1, 1867 
Philip B. Robinson 
November 3, 1865 
Thos. F. Pierce 
December 29, 1882 
John T. Dolvin 
March 14, 1867 
William Bryan, M. G. 
December 16, 1830 
W. Alexander 
January 21, 1864 
William Bryan 
October 10, 1867 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
December 4, 1872 
J. W. Godkin 
April 30, 1848 
W. F. Gaston 
January 17, 1871 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
April 18, 1837 
Vincent R. Thornton 
May 1, 1826 

July 1, 1826 

November 28, 1834 
A. Hutcheson 


522 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


COPELAND, Jasper N. 

February 15, 1872 

Patience C. Zachary 

Geo. W. Yarbrough 

COPELAND, John 

March 27, 1828 

Betsey Ann Credille 

William Bryan 

COPELAND, Peter 

November 24, 1825 

Mary Tuggle 

COPELAND, William 

January 2, 1816 

Nancy Tally 

Thomas M. Bush 

COPELAND, William, Jr. 

December 15, 1839 

Mary Dunn 

William Tuggle 

COPELAND, William D. 

January 20, 1859 

Elizabeth D. Hailes 

George C. Clarke 

CORE, Richard 

March 12, 1808 

Eliza Mead 

Peter Early 

CORRY, Daniel 

January 3, 1830 

Addie Forrester 

Robert Newsom 

CORRY, G. T. 

November 24, 1852 

Jane E. Harris 

Thomas Stocks 

CORRY, James Thomas 

December 15, 1872 

Irwia Rhodes 

Henry Newton 

CORRY, John 

November 22, 1822 

Elizabeth Carter 

CORRY, John A. 

May 12, 1864 

Mary A. Reynolds 

R. A. Houston, M. G. 

CORRY, William A. 

May 19, 1838 

Martha M. Bunkley 

COTHRUM, Thomas 

March 17, 1868 

Lottie Brown 

Jas. W. Godkin 

COTTON, Henry 

May 28, 1825 

Maria Jenkins 

COWLES, Samuel 

April 11, 1820 

Judith Harroway 

Lovick Pierce 

COX, James M. 

May 4, 1852 

Sarah A. Rawls 

Vincent R. Thornton 

COX, John T. 

April 29, 1847 

Sarah T. Houghton 

E. S. Hunter 

CRABB, Benjamin R. 

August 6, 1861 

Fannie A. Bryan 

Albert Gray 

CRAFT, Hugh 

September 9, 1830 

Eliza Collier 

Francis Cummins 

CRANE, William H. 

May 31, 1859 

Henrietta W. Statham 

R. A. Houston, M. G. 

CRAWFORD, Bennet 

December 6, 1808 

Nancy Crawford 

Isaac Cook 

CRAWFORD, Fitus 

May 8, 1814 

Nancy Powers 

A. Bledsoe* 

CRAWFORD, George 

August 12, 1847 

Louisa Burk 

J. F. Billingslea 

CRAWFORD, James Thomas 

November 24, 1853 

Beatrice H. Rosser 

Hinton Crawford 

CRAWFORD, James 

September 13, 1855 

Harriet C. Ballard 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


523 


CRAWFORD, James Thomas 
S. E. R. Peoples 
CRAWFORD, Josiah H. 

Mary Howse 
CRAWFORD, Nowel 
Jane Finley 
CRAWFORD, William 
Nancy Hemphill 
CRAWFORD, William H. 

Harriet L. McGwier 
CREDILLE, Cullen S. 

Jane Phillips 
CREDILLE, Gray 
Polly Smith 
CREDILLE, Henry 
Sarah Smith 
CREDILLE, Henry H. 

Sarah P. Jones 
CREDILLE, Jesse 
Sarah Shockley 
CREDILLE, Reuben A. 

Mary A. Hines 
CREDILLE, William 
Lina Smith 

CREDILLE, William G. 

Mary Ann Smith 
CREDILLE, William H. 

Fannie L. Blythe 
CREDILLE, William S. 

May Rosser 

CRENSHAW, William H. 

M. E. Newsom 
CRENSHAW, William L. 
Mary E. Craddock 

CRITTENDEN, Isaiah 
Toletha E. Tolbert 

CROCKETT, Augustus C. 
Harriet A. Skidmore 

CROSS, Fetherhanx 
Mary Tucker 

CROSLEY, C. M. 

Mary Veazey 

CROSSLEY, Columbus M. 
Annie Luckie 

CROSSLEY, Edward 
Parmelia Linch 

CROSSLEY, Edward 
Harriet Drake 

CROSSLEY, Edwin 
Nancy Wright 


December 18, 1855 
Hinton Crawford 
December 20, 1855 
Hinton Crawford 
December 1, 1829 
John Park 
October 27, 1801 

July 25, 1867. 
Thos. P. Safford 
December 19, 1833 
Hinton Crawford 
September 27, 1804 

October 27, 1804 

January 20, 1839 
John Copelan 
April 15, 1819 
Wm. McGiboney 
November 27, 1852 
William Owen 
December 22, 1814 
James Baldwin 
December 11, 1845 
William Bryan 
January 31, 1865 

September 15, 1842 
William Arnold 
May 6, 1873 
Henry Newton 
December 14, 1844 

December 20, 1865 
Lorenso D. Carlton 

November 1, 1855 
S. L. McCluskey 

April 13, 1820 
William Cone 

January 28, 1847 
James Jones 

April 25, 1871 
J. M. Loury, M. G. 

December 1, 1840 
Reuben B. Armor 

November 19, 1842 
John Howell 

June 24, 1824 


524 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


CROSSLEY, Josiah 
Rena Channell 
CROSSLEY, Lemuel 
Sally Shipp 

CROSSLEY, Wiley A. 

Cynthia A. E. Leslie 
CROUCH, Joseph 
Elizabeth Joiner 
CROW, Stephen 
Rebecca Kinnie 
CROW, Stephen 
Rebecca Kinney 
CROWDER, Richard P. 

Lucy Ann Thompson 
CROWLEY, Thomas 
Lurania R. Ward 
CRUTCHFIELD, George 
Martha Matilda Moore 
CRUTCHFIELD, John 
Jinney W. Jelk 
CRUTCHFIELD, John 
Jane E. Stephen 
CRUTCHFIELD, John W. 

Alice J. Harris 
CRUTCHFIELD, Robert F. 

Martha J. Turnell 
CULBERTSON, David 
Lucy Wilkinson 
CULBERSON, David 
Sarah Stovall 

CULBERSON, Jeremiah F. 

Nancy Macon 
CULBERSON, William B. 

Margaret Carter 
CULP, Peter 

Martha Bennett 
CULVER, Alfred 
Arena Credille 
CULVER, George P. 

Emma P. Arnold 
CULVER, John P. 

Martha F. Strozier 
CULVER, Joshua I. 

Mary Figgs 
CUMBIE, Peter 

Lucinda Williams 
CUNNINGHAM, Cornelius 
Sarah Elizabeth Cessena 
CUNNINGHAM, Thomas T. 

Jane Fereba Gastin 
CUNNINGHAM, William 
Ann Eliza Early 


April 30, 1843 
Reuben Armor 
December 14, 1826 
Thomas Whatley 
October 10, 1859 
W .G. Johnson 
December 20, 1821 
Thomas Riley 
December 30, 1870 

August 20, 1871 
Rev. J. S. Patten 
May 17, 1843 
John L. Oliver 
March 5, 1829 
Roger Dickinson 
November 18, 1836 
William Cone 
January 9, 1804 

January 9, 1806 
E. Sparks Hunter 
April 15, 1871 
J. M. Loury, M. G. 
September 28, 1856 
I. A. Williams 
December 24, 1818 
John Browning 
June 15, 1819 
L. Bethune 
March 27, 1827 
Jas. Culberson 
June 8, 1852 
J. T. Findley 
September 30, 1835 
John I. Holtzclaw 
December 22, 1842 
R. F. Griffen 
March 19, 1872 
James L. Pierce 
December 23, 1871 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
June 20, 1843 
E. P. Jarrell 
February 6, 1855 
Ephraim Bruce 
July 8, 1844 
Francis Bowman 
October 6, 1836 
James Anderson 
July 15, 1830 
H. Reid 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


525 


CUNNINGHAM, William H. 

November 30, 1873 

Ella F. Knowles 

J. Knowles 

CURETON, William 

November 4, 1789 

Margaret Crawl 

CURRY, James 

October 7, 1828 

Mary Forrester 

Robert Newsom 

CURRY, William H. 

May 1, 1864 

Sarah E. Wright 

J. R. Parker 

CURTIS, Johnson 

May 3, 1815 

Isabella Smith 

Francis Cummins 

CURTIS, Robert 

January 30, 1811 

Margaret Taylor 

Francis Cummins 

CURTIS, Robert 

January 27, 1820 

Sara Johnson 

William Cone 

CURTIS, William 

January 10, 1821 

Sarah Grier 

CURTWRIGHT, John 

January 7, 1833 

Irene Ward 

Thomas W. Grimes 

CURTWRIGHT, Samuel 

March 4, 1827 

Barbara Howell 

James Woodham 

DALE, Archibald Buchanan 

October 24, 1832 

Margaret Ritchie 

Thomas W. Grimes 

DANIEL, Charles S. 

April 8, 1852 

Adeline Jones 

W. A. Corry 

DANIEL, Charles W. 

December 22, 1835 

Elizabeth Ann Jenkins 

DANIEL, Cordial 

April 17, 1824 

Anne Eliza Watts 

DANIEL, Dana B. 

February 16, 1865 

Julia F. Hunter 

J. A. Preston, M. G. 

DANIEL, Denton 

February 10, 1806 

Saddy Jones 

DANIEL, Henry P. 

August 1, 1832 

Martha S. Moore 

DANIEL, Ire A. M. 

August 20, 1835 

Rebecca I. Walker 

William Choice 

DANIEL, James 

December 7, 1819 

Eca Woodham 

James Holt 

DANIEL, James 

December 21, 1789 

Grezil Clemonte 

DANIEL, John 

June 11, 1808 

Polly Fuller 

Thomas Crawford 

DANIEL, John 

January 31, 1822 

Mary McLain 

John Leftwich 

DANIEL, Oliver P. 

June 13, 1848 

Fanny M. Clark 

Francis Bowman 

DANIEL, Oliver T. 

November 3, 1858 

Jane Victoria Cone 

Samuel K. Talmadge 

DANIEL, Samuel B. 

January 12, 1845 

Mary E. Morgan 

John Reid, M. G. 

DANIEL, William 

March 9, 1789 

Mary King 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


526 


DANIEL, William 
Adaline Moore 
DANIEL, William 
Sarah J. Watts 
DANIEL, William 
Rebecca A. House 
DANIEL, William T. 

Letitia M. Branch 
DANLEY, William L. 

Lucy G. Shaffer 
DARNELL, Zachariah 
Jenny Hopkins 
DARROCOTT, William 
Sally Beckley 
DAVANT, James 

Rebecca F. Matthews 
DAVANT, P. E. 

Hortense Moore 
DAVANT, Samuel 
Agnes Ledbetter 
DAVANT, William F. 

Anna Cocroft 
DAVENPORT, Burkett 
Sophiah Park 
DAVENPORT, Henry 
Elizabeth Hubbard 
DAVIES, John O. 

Mary Jane Eden 
DAVIES, William 
Nancy Rutledge 
DAVIES, Capt. William 
Susannah Barnett 
DAVIS, Aaron L. B. 

Elizabeth Hancock 
DAVIS, Abner 

Elizabeth Parrish 
DAVIS, Augustus V. 

Frances L. Saggus 
DAVIS, C. A. 

A. B. Swift 
DAVIS, David 

Rebecca Woodwin 
DAVIS, Genge C. 

Emma J. Reynolds 
DAVIS, George 

Patsy Gellum Price 
DAVIS, John 

Elizabeth Downey 
DAVIS, John W. 

Lizzie Bass 

DAVIS, Leroy W. 

Martha O’Neal 


November 15, 1827 
Francis Cummins 
December 20, 1853 
John Scott 
December 7, 1856 

N. M. Crawford 
January 11, 1859 
John W. Reid, M. G. 
January 19, 1866 

October 20, 1811 

O. Porter 
October 17, 1804 

March 26, 1843 
B. M. Sanders 
January 8, 1856 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 
March 15, 1829 
William Rowland 
October 28, 1856 
J. P. Duncan 
May 12, 1824 

March 9, 1824 

October 29, 1854 
G. H. Thompson 
February 28, 1801 

October 31, 1808 

August 9, 1853 

December 11, 1817 
Thomas Rhodes 
December 9, 1875 
Henry Newton 
February 27, 1849 

P. H. Mell 
May 11, 1809 
Wm. McGiboney 
January 16, 1875 
Henry Newton 
July 31, 1819 

March 11, 1830 
James Burton 
December 4, 1875 
W. H. Chapman 

December 11, 1855 
H. D. Murden 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


527 


DAVIS, Martin 
Frances Harper 
DAVIS, Reuben 
Elizabeth Glaze 
DAVIS, Reynolds 
Catherine Tuggle 
DAVIS, Thomas 
Patsy Woodwin 
DAVIS, Thomas W. 

Adaline H. Jackson 
DAVIS, William 
Hannah Cochran 
DAVIS, William G. 

M. A. E. Grant 
DAVIS, William L. 

Elizabeth Forte Foster 
DAVIS, William M. 

Virginia A. Ely 
DAVIS, William S. 

Ann S. Kimbro 
DAVISON, James 

Rebecca F. Matthews 
DAVISON, James 
Ella M. Tiller 
DAVISON, James M. 

Mary Ann Southerland 
DAVISON, James M. 

Margaret Moore 
DAVISON, Reuben 

Elizabeth Wilson Jones 
DAVISON, Robert E. 

Hattie Armstrong 
DAWSEY, Daniel 
Unity Coplan 
DAWSON, George, Jr. 

Sarah Branch 
DAWSON, George M. 

Mary D. Riley 
DAWSON, James I. 

Missiouri S. Martin 
DAWSON, John T. 

Betsey A. Park 
DAWSON, William Crosby 
Henrietta Wingfield 
DAY, John 

Frances Harris 
DAY, Wiley 

Sarah Jane Gaston 
DEFOUR, William 
Nancy Jane House 
DEFUR, Joseph 
Martha Ray 


December 4, 1806 
Thomas Crawford 
February 23, 1847 
William Bryan 
December 20, 1823 

May 18, 1801 

December 25, 1859 
T. J. Bowen 
February 9, 1802 

November 15, 1863 

March 15, 1863 
J. M. Stillwell 
August 29, 1860 
Jas. H. Kilpatrick 
October 27, 1853 
J. W. Yarbrough 
March 26, 1843 
B. M. Sanders 
December 8, 1872 
W. A. Overton, M. G. 
January 14, 1833 
Abraham Yeats 
July 6, 1852 
J. T. Findley 
February 18, 1841 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 22, 1875 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
November 13, 1808 
F. T. Martin 
June 17, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 
March 21, 1839 
Thomas Stocks 
August 5, 1847 
J. L. Dagg 
September 20, 1865 
William C. Bass, M. G. 
January 29, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
April 30, 1848 
R. B. Kelly 
October 15, 1850 
James M. Kelly 
January 2, 1848 
Wm. F. Gaston 
March 30, 1856 
B. Rowland 


528 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


DEJARNET, Reuben 

December 26, 1795 

Nancy Reid 

DELANEY, Drury W. 

July 16, 1857 

Laura Elliot 

Littleton D. Caldwell 

DENNARD, Tarred 

January 26, 1858 

Emma H. Macon 

DENNING, George A. 

February 4, 1863 

Sarah G. Tunison 

R. A. Houston, M. G. 

DENNIS, George W. 

November 21, 1863 

Sarah Ann Jackson 

Lorenzo D. Carlton 

DEVANEY, John Thomas 

April 20, 1857 

Emily Harris 

Daniel Owens 

DEVANEY, William 

November 10, 1871 

Mary Ann Palmer 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

DEVANT, James M. 

November 15, 1860 

Celina Cocroft 

J. J. Wallace, M. G. 

DEVINEY, Thomas 

December 4, 1821 

Tempy Riley 

A. Hutchinson 

DICK, William 

January 3, 1811 

Polly Price 

H. Gatlin 

DICKENS, Tillman 

April 5, 1852 

Sarah Jane Pickett 

Hart V. Peek 

DICKERSON, William 

November 5, 1819 

Elizabeth Credille 

DICKINSON, Francis 

November 9, 1826 

Elizabeth Garrett 

A. H. Scott 

DICKINSON, John T. 

May 3j 1869 

Ella Lindsey 

Wm. A. Overton 

DICKINSON, Roger 

February 11, 1825 

Catherine Atkinson 

DICKINSON, William 

June 22, 1859 

Cornelia Daniel 

DICKS, George 

April 8, 1800 

Nancy Elton 

DILLARD, George 

July 29, 1822 

Martha Wall 

Lovick Pierce 

DILLON, John 

April 16, 1848 

Lethea Thigpen 

A. F. Gaston 

DIX, John W. K. 

July 23, 1851 

Sarah Elizabeth Martin 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

DIXON, David 

March 10. 1788 

Martha Aubrey 

DIXON, Hugh 

October 3, 1807 

Rickah Alford 

George Stovall 

DIXON, Joel 

January 10, 1800 

Nancy Watson 

O. Porter 

DOBLE, Joshua M. 

February 16, 1869 

Ellen V. Wilson 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

DOLVIN, James 

Femruary 7, 1821 

Nancy Boone 

William Cone 

DOLVIN, James 

February 7, 1821 

Peggy Ann McHargue 

Thomas Johnson 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


529 


DOLVIN, James 

December 7, 1835 

Bede McMilliam 

John H. Steele 

DOLVIN, James H. 

June 17, 1856 

Sarah E. E. Turnell 

I. A. Williams 

DOLVIN, William B. 

February 8, 1855 

Sarah C. Boswell 

J. W. Reid 

DOOLEY, L. J. 

November 11, 1852 

Martha W. Smith 

William Bryan 

DOSSEY, John 

January 25, 1815 

Nancy Smith 

James Baldwin 

DOSTER, Jonathan 

August 27, 1854 

Amanda Edge 

Absalom Rhodes 

DOSTER, William T. 

January 8, 1852 

Sarah C. Hale 

Homer Hendel 

DOUGHTER, William 

September 3, 1803 

Martha Norsworthy 

Jesse Lacey 

DOWELL, James W. 

December 9, 1790 

Elizabeth Carson 

DOWNING, Thomas 

December 28, 1826 

Adaline Gatlin 

DOWNS, William A. 

December 18, 1856 

Mary A. Moore 

William Williams 

DRAKE, James W. 

February 6, 1837 

Caroline F. Boswell 

Vincent R. Thornton 

DRAKE, James V. 

September 6, 1856 

Mrs. Sarah A. Callaway 

DRAKE, John 

December 7, 1869 

Ellen Bough 

W. C. Birchmore 

DRAKE, Patrick Henry 

April 24, 1826 

Martha Billbrath 

DRAKE, Thomas R. 

February 23, 1864 

Laura R. Carlton 

W. R. Foote, M. G. 

DUKE, Green 

August 5, 1830 

Ann Robinson 

Francis West 

DUKE, Isham 

October 1, 1806 

Elizabeth Sherrel 

DUKE, Robert 

February 19, 1800 

Patty Holloway 

DUNAWAY, John 

September 20, 1821 

Elizabeth Mayhay 

Francis West 

DUNCAN, Daniel 

December 7, 1806 

Paty Johnson 

Thomas Crawford 

DUNCAN, Daniel 

January 16, 1844 

Millie Williams 

Thomas Stocks 

DUNCAN, James 

July 22, 1805 

Sally Sinsdel 

DUNN, Hiram 

February 5, 1821 

Letitia Grier 

DUNN, Ishmael 

January 8, 1833 

Martha Darlington 

J. P. Leveritt 

DUNN, William 

December 15, 1788 

Anne Thompson 


530 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


DUPREE, James 
Susan Jones 
DUPREE, James M. 

Jane Shedd 
DURHAM, Abram 
Elizabeth Durham 
DURHAM, Columbus 
Catherine Reynolds 
DURHAM, George W. 

Hattie M. Hendon 
DURHAM, Henry H. 

Fannie C. Edwards 
DURHAM, James 
Rebeccah Norris 
DURHAM, J. D. 

Cordelia West 
DURHAM, John C. 

Sarah Bowles 
DURHAM, Jonathan D. 

Eliza Ann Parham 
DURHAM, Joseph V. 

Hattie A. Tool 
DURHAM, Samuel D. 

Rebecca Armstrong 
DURHAM, Samuel D. 

Alzira E. Watson 
DURHAM, Samuel D. 

Henrietta Morgan 
DURHAM, Samuel J. 

Nancy Harrison 
DURHAM, Silas 
Alvina Booles 
DURHAM, William 
Reba Reynolds 
DURHAM, William J. 

Virginia A. Moss 
DURST, Adolphus F. 

Henrietta W. Crane 
DUVVAL, Ezekial 
Luriah Hunt 
DYER, John 

Frances Pendergrass 
EADES, William M. 

Lucy E. Heath 
EARLY, Clement 
Frances Terrell 
EARLY, Jeremiah 
Eliza Cunningham 
EARLY, Seaborn 
Nancy Porter 
EASLIN, James M. 

Sara Anne Turner 


February 6, 1872 
N. N. Jones, M. G. 
December 7, 1867 
Columbus Heard 
February 4, 1845 
Samuel Ely 
December 5, 1871 

December 18, 1859 
J. M. Stillwell 
June 27, 1865 
John R. Young, M. G. 
August 10, 1837 
John G. Holtzclaw 
May 20, 1875 
John S. Callaway 
November 17, 1831 
Augustine Evans 
January 31, 1867 
William Britain, M. G. 

April 22, 1875 
P. H. McWhorter 
July 5, 1835 
Jack Lumpkin, M. G. 
January 24, 1839 
B. M. Sanders 
December 12, 1858 
P. H. Mell 
October 9, 1866 
E. B. Moody 
December 4, 1827 

January 5, 1805 

November 27, 1866 
P. H. Mell 
February 28, 1861 
R. W. Houston 
July 3, 1838 
James M. Godkin 
December 7, 1817 
Hinton Crawford 
September 2, 1860 
Hart C. Peek 
January 8, 1810 
A. Gresham 
October 15, 1806 
Thomas Crawford 
November 8, 1819 

October 20, 1841 
Ephraim Bruce 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


531 


EASON, Thomas T. 

Mary A. Hightower 
ECHOLS, Robert 
Polly Freeman 
ECHOLS, Silas M. 

Sarah C. Hammonds 
EDMONDS, Reuben B. 

Miriam Kennedy 
EDMONDS, William 
Frances G. Greer 
EDMONDSON, Augustus 
Mary Ann Jones 
EDMONDSON, John 
Martha Freeman 
EDMONDSON, Joseph 
Rebecca Ann Wilson 
EDMUNDSON, James 
Elizabeth Humphrey 
EDWARDS, Ambrose 
Betsey Kimbrough 
EDWARDS, Ethelbred 
Julie Ogletree 
EDWARDS, Gresham 
Emily Armstrong 
EDWARDS, Jacob 
Matilda Acre 
EDWARDS, John 
Susan McBride 
EDWARDS, Leroy 
Polly Allen 

EDWARDS, Pitman R. 

Elizabeth I. Malone 
EDWARDS, Thomas 
Angeline Chain 
EIDSON, Ellis 
Celia Fuller 
EIDSON, John R. 

Mary Harris 
EIDSON, Thomas 
Mary Hodges 
EIDSON, Willis 

Mary Richardson 
ELDER, John 
Susan Barnett 
ELDER, William H. 

Catherine Jackson 
Eley, Samuel 

Sarah Brooks 
ELEY, Wilborn 
Mary Newsom 
ELLINGTON, Enoch 

Nancy C. Blankenship 


August 2, 1857 
Joseph R. Parker 
April 22, 1824 

January 4, 1838 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 21, 1837 
Nathan Hobbs 
October 19, 1856 
William English 
June 26, 1842 
N. M. Lumpkin 
April 8, 1859 
George A. Mathews 
December 29, 1845 
W. H. Cone 
March 28, 1817 
James Greer 
May 12, 1807 
William Johnson 
December 9, 1823 

October 23, 1840 

December 14, 1815 
Thomas Lyne 
December 23, 1848 

January 8, 1824 
Chesley Bristow 
August 24, 1845 
R. L. McWhorter 
December 18, 1848 

July 12, 1821 
Abraham Teates 
December 23, 1835 
John Wilson 
December 5, 1827 

August 30, 1840 
James M. Porter 
November 25, 1823 

June 23, 1806 

February 13, 1828 
Sylvanus Gibson, M. G. 

June 3, 1829 

February 12, 1816 
R. Baugh 


532 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ELLINGTON, Hekekiah 
Lucy A. G. Green 
ELLINGTON, Richard 
Eliza White 
ELLIOTT, Benjamin 
Elizabeth Williams 
ELLIOTT, David 
Dionia Findley 
ELLIOTT, George 
Mary Malone 
ELLIS, James H. 

Lucienda Hendricks 
ELLIS, John W. 

Elizabeth Ellerbee 
ELLIS, Mathew 

Martha McHargue 
ELMORE, John William 
Martha Sims 
ELMORE, Matthew 
Lucy Tait 
ELY, James J., Jr. 

Menlo Rucker 
ELY. John 

Frances Jernigan 
ENGLISH, Henry 
Nancy Middleton 
ENGLISH, James N. 

Sallie M. Greer 
ENGLISH, J. H. 

Elizah Holtzclaw 
ENGLISH, John 
Ann Holtzclaw 
ENGLISH, John H. 

Mary V. Beazley 
ENGLISH, Stephen 
Martha Cheney 
ENGLISH, William 
Mary Dunham 
EPPS, Alexander 
Louisa Hunter 
EPPS, Alexander W. 

Melissa Jane Butler 
EPPS, Chesley 

Elizabeth T. Mitchell 
EPPS, Williams C. 

Emaline Barnes 
EPPS, William 

Amanda Roberts 
ERRICK, Charles C. 

Martha Ann Elizabeth Williams 
ESPRY, Robert 
Mary Barnette 


January 5, 1809 
Francis Ross, M. G. 
December 24, 1825 

December 27, 1860 
John O’Neal 
November 6, 1818 
L. Bethune 
October 7, 1819 
William Cone 
June 29, 1843 
James W. Godkin 
December 9, 1847 
J. J. Loudermilk 
July 8, 1819 
Thomas Johnson 
August 30, 1824 

September 15, 1824 

November 15, 1873 

January 12, 1843 
James Jones, M. G. 
May 10, 1807 
J. Mapp 
October 17, 1865 
John B. Young 
December 18, 1855 
P. H. Mell 
January 2, 1847 

November 26, 1868 
Wm. A. Overton 
December 13, 1849 
Enoch Calloway 
November 28, 1851 
B. L. Ward 
June 10, 1869 
W. H. Brimberry 
June 6, 1868 

March 4, 1858 
J. H. Wragg 
December 27, 1868 
E. A. Burgess 
October 9, 1875 
R. A. Credelle 
March 26, 1866 
W. G. Johnson 
September 21, 1799 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


533 


ETHRIDGE, Henry C. 

Sarah E. Sharp 
EVANS, Arden 

Elizabeth Carmichael 
EVANS, Ardin B. C. 

Josephine McMichael 
EVANS, Benjamin F. 

Emma F. Littleton 
EVANS, Elijah 
Polly Reed 
EVANS, Nicholas H. 

Catherine C. White 
EVANS, Winston 
Elizabeth Jackson 
EVANS, Winston 
Sarah Park 
EZELL, Henry Clay 
Olive M. Arnold 
EZELL, James M. 

Martha H. Arnold 
EZELL, James M. 

Frances L. Bowden 
FLOYD, George F. 

Maranda Copeland 
FLOYD, John 
Ruth Grimes 
FLUKER, John C. 

Mary Ann Culbreth 
FLUKER, Jesse M. 

Julia Holtzclaw 
FLUKER, Oscar S. 

Mollie Sanford 
FOLIS, Turner P. 

Nell Ledbetter 
FOLLY, William 
Elizabeth Ellis 
FORCE, Albert W. 

Irene Howell 
FORCE, Benjamin W. 

Julia Ann Harper 
FORD, John S. 

Sarah Ann May 
FORD, William 
Sarah Wyatt 
FORD, William 

Virginia Bennett 
FORD, William 
Winnie Thigpen 
FORREST, James S. 
Sarah Chappie 

FORRESTER, Gresham 
Jane Waddell 


August 5, 1868 
H. H. Tucker, M. G. 
January 15, 1805 

September 15, 1842 
James McKenzie 
February 7, 1867 
A. J. S. Jackson 
December 24, 1811 
Malachi Murden 
November 16, 1860 
T. R. Swanson 
May 14, 1823 
John Park 
July 3, 1827 
Julius Alford 
January 14, 1869 
Hart C. Peek 
February 9, 1865 
Hart C. Peek 
October 28, 1870 

June 15, 1833 
William Bryan 
January 29, 1833 
A. Hutcheson 
October 12, 1837 
John B. Cassels 
February 14, 1872 
W. A. Overton 
January 12, 1869 
Philip H. Robinson 
June 3, 1802 

March 9, 1816 
C. Maddox 
December 22, 1870 
Homer Hendee, M. G. 
October 21, 1841 
F. R. Golding 
April 14, 1840 
John G. Holtzclaw 
April 27, 1852 
B. Rowland 
April 21, 1853 
B. Rowland 
September 30, 1855 
B. Rowland 
Tanuary 30, 1864 
M. W. Arnold, M. G. 

March 14, 1831 


534 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


FORRESTER, Jesse, M. 

December 17, 1840 

Sarah Ann Mitchell 

Vincent H. Thornton 

FORRESTER, Joel 

October 24, 1799 

Sarah Tatum 

FORRESTER, Joel 

September 26, 1833 

Elizabeth Newsom 

Jesse H. Watson 

FORRESTER, Redman 

June 19, 1858 

Martha E. Holtzclaw 

FORRESTER, William 

March 5, 1804 

Sarah Hunt 

FORRESTER, William 

May 9, 1822 

Nancy Payne 

Robert Newsom 

FORRESTER, Willie 

January 9, 1812 

Polly Boles 

Lemuel Greene 

FOSTER, Anderson 

November 29,1801 

Salley Billingsby 

FORT, French S. 

July 8, 1835 

Lena Chambers 

James H. Taylor 

FOSTER, Arthur 

February 12, 1790 

Elizabeth Glenn 

FOSTER, Arthur 

October 5, 1819 

Harriet Crawford 

Thomas Stocks 

FOSTER, Arthur R. 

November 1, 1874 

Mrs. Harriet T. Leverett 

Albert Gray 

FOSTER, James F. 

June 18, 1815 

Matilda Houghton 

Lovick Pierce 

FOSTER, John 

November 3, 1808 

Nancy Mallory 

William Johnston 

FOSTER, Joseph 

January 13, 1819 

Charlotte Daniel 

William Robinson 

FOSTER, Robert 

July 18, 1833 

Nancy Ellis 

Hartwell H. Laurence 

FOSTER, Robert M. 

June 22, 1852 

Nancy Watts 

Vincent R. Thornton 

FOSTER, Samuel 

March 13, 1827 

Jane Watkins 

FOSTER, Seaborn 

August 8, 1842 

Clementine P. Simmons 

Ephraim Bruce 

FOSTER, Thomas F. 

May 14, 1851 

Mary Higginbotham 

S. L. Pinkerton 

FOSTER, William 

September 10, 1833 

Mary Tally 

Hartwell H. Laurence 

FOUNTAIN, Elias G. 

May 15, 1859 

Rachael A. Duncan 

Reuben Kelly 

FRAZIER, John V. 

November 18, 1841 

Martha Irby 

John Howell 

FREEMAN, Beasley 

August 2, 1840 

Polly Cummins 

J. M. Wilson 

FREEMAN, George A. 

December 23, 1858 

Catherine S. Edmonds 

James Davison 

FREEMAN, James 

December 19, 1822 

Anny Thurmon 

Abraham Teats 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


535 


FREEMAN, John G. 

Martha J. Durham 
FREEMAN, Valentine 
Nancy Legett 
FREEMAN, Zacharia 
Margaret Findley 
FRENCH, Lewis 

Julia Ann Newton 
FRETWELL, Micajah H. 

Jane L. Harper 
FULLER, David 
Lucy Bedford 
FULLER, Elijah 
Elizabeth Foggis 
FULLER, Elijah 
Nancy Bowles 
FULLER, Frederick C. 

Julia M. Nickelson 
FULLER, Greene 
Sussanah Burford 
FULLER, Jesse, 

Polly Jackson 
FULLER, Simon 
Nancy Hall 
FULLER, William S. 

Celea White 

FULLWOOD, John Thomas 
Rebecca Lamar 
FURLOUGH, Charles 
Elizabeth Tucker 
FURLOW, David 
Sally Dawson 
FURLOW, George W. 

Lucy J. Dickens 
FURLOW, James 
Peggy Pague 
FURLOW, James T. 

Sarah Ann Hutchinson 
FURLOW, Osborn 

Sarah Anne Brinckley 
FUTRAL, Benjamin 
Nancy Smith 
FAMBROUGH, James 
Elizabeth Le Wood 
FAMBROUGH, Jesse M. 

Delilah Jane Freeman 
FAMBROUGH, Thomas M. 

Jane Freeman 
FAMBROUGH, William 
Sally Bradshaw 

FAMBROUGH, Zachariah 
Elizabeth Jane Jackson 


October 7, 1852 
William Tuggle 
March 20, 1805 

July 3, 1842 
John H. Zuber 
April 10, 1823 
Hugh Smith, M. G. 
November 11, 1804 

January 19, 1817 
William Cone 
October 25, 1811 
A. Veazey 
January 31, 1825 

June 20, 1860 
Homer Hendee, M. G. 
March 18, 1812 
A. Veazey 
November 25, 1807 
William Browning 
January 4, 1842 
James Hutchinson 
December 13, 1836 
James Moore 
September 30, 1846 
B. M. Sanders 
February 1, 1820 

March 20, 1804 

November 21, 1850 
J. T. Billingslea 
February 5, 1803 

February 28, 1839 
Wm. L. Strain 
January 14, 1831 
William Cone 
October 17, 1811 
Robert Rea 
December 10, 1854 
W. A. Partee 
January 24, 1856 
W. A. Partee 
November 30, 1840 
James Porter 
March 10, 1814 

September 10, 1838 
James M. Porter 


536 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


FANNIN, Isham 
Peggy Porter 
FANNIN, Jepthah 
Catherine Porter 
FANNIN, William 
Nancy Pierce 
FANNIN, William 
Catherine Martin 
FARMER, William Thomas 
Mary Jane Bowles 
FARRAR, William J. 

Louisa Bailey 
FARRIS, James 

Nancy Aurena Bennett 
FARROW, Nathaniel 
Jane Williams 
FASSETH, Early P. 

Martha Brunt 
FARWAYER, James L. 

Mary Ann Hall 
FAUCHE, Jonas 
Polly Daniell 
FAULKNER, Zachariah 
Sarah A. D. Thompson 
FAUNTLEROY, George L. 

Aphiah F. B. Todd 
FAY, Frank 

Dorothy Hicks 
FEARS, Ezekiel 

Alisey Stringfellow 
FEARS, James P. 

Elizabeth Bowden 
FEARS, Jesse W. 

Mary E. Perkins 
F'ERREL, Archelaus 
Sally Parker 
FEW, Joseph 

Mary Fielder 
FIELDS, Joseph W. 

Emily E. Foster 
FIELDS, Lewis 
Eliza Fitten 
FIELDS, Thomas 
Sally Kilgcar 
FILLINGHAM, Counsel 
Nancy Williams 
FILLINGHAM, Henry C. 

Angeline C. O’Neal 
FILLINGHAM, Jarvis W. 

Nancy A. Veazey 
FILLINGHAM, Jarvis W. 
Eliza Stanley 


September 1, 1809 
Samuel Harper 
May 10, 1814 
Jack Lampkin 
January 13, 1800 

January 18, 1807 
J. Mapp 
December 22, 1871 
Wm. A. Overton 
June 11, 1848 
T. M. Fambrough 
June 26, 1856 
Issac R. Hall 
December 8, 1850 
Joseph W. Drennan 
September 29, 1842 
Robert F. Griffen 
October 9, 1840 
Wm, I. Heard 
October 20, 1793 

December 2, 1866 
E. L. Williams 
November 10, 1831 
Lovick Pierce, M. G. 
January 25, 1821 
Francis Cummins 
June 9, 1803 

December 13, 1864 
N. M. Arnold, M. G. 

September 6, 1864 
E. W. Warren, M. G. 
August 28, 1797 

July 23, 1804 

July 24, 1851 
M. G. Foster 
December 27, 1827 
Francis Cummins 
December 19, 1791 

August 23, 1814 
Archibald Watts 
December 14, 1865 
E. C. Caldwell 
December 14, 1843 
John L. Veazey 
December 14, 1868 
L. D. Caldwell 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


537 


FINCH, George W. 

Martha Ann Pierce 
FINCH, John E. 

Almira Moody 
FINCH, John E. 

Mary R. A. Patrick 
FINCH, William 

Elizabeth Stallings 
FINLEY, John 
Mary Ray 
FINLEY, Leroy I. 

Hannah Woodham 
FINLEY, Norwood H. 

Cynthia Caldwell 
FINLEY, Robert 
Janie Finley 
FINLEY, Robert 
Lucendia Finley 
FINLEY, Thomas 
Margaret Allen 
FINLEY, Thomas 
Anna Waggoner 
FINLEY, Thomas 
Nancy Gregory 
FINLEY, Thomas L. 

C. A. Crawford 
FINLEY, William 
Polly Sharpe 
FISHER, Joseph 

Mrs. Georgia Ann White 
FITZGERALD, Bird 
Eliza B. Springer 
FITZPATRICK, Joseph 
Ruth Hodge 
FITZPATRICK, Rene 
Polly Watts 

FITZSIMMONS, Henry 
Elmira Burk 
FLANAGAN, Edward 
Frances R. Moore 
FLANAGAN, Edward 
Marietta Holder 
FLEETWOOD, Littleberry 
Tillitha J. Evans 
FLEETWOOD, William 
Mary Ann Jackson 
FLEMING, William 
Delila Kennedy 
FLINT, William T. 

Lilia W. Moore 


October 22, 1837 
Nathan Hobbs 
November 12, 1840 
James Davidson 
December 12, 1866 
Lucius C. Broome 
August 25, 1831 
George Hall 
May 3, 1804 

January 23, 1840 
John Hutchinson 
January 1, 1835 
Abraham Jenkins 
November 26, 1802 

August 18, 1803 

February 5, 1801 

November 9, 1823 

August 3, 1846 
W. D. Maddox 
August 19, 1869 
W. R. Foote 
June 29, 1805 

May 10, 1865 
W. G. Johnston 
December 20, 1825 

July 12, 1823 
Hinton Crawford 
January 15, 1816 
Jack Lumpkin 
April 22, 1819 

September 4, 1864 
Ezekiel S. Williams 
September 4, 1864 
E. S. Williams 
October 15, 1857 
L. B. Jackson 
April 17, 1832 
J. P. Leveritt 
July 31, 1836 
Jas. H. McWhorter 
February 18, 1874 
J. H. Kilpatrick 


FLORENCE, Frank S. L. 
Sarah Eldecia Winfield 


April 17, 1860 
A. Gray 


538 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


FLORENCE, William A. 

Betsy Ann Park 
FLOURNEY, Gibson 
Huldy Williams 
FLOW, Guilford 

Elizabeth Coleman 
GAFFORD, Thomas 
Polly Whatley 
GAILSFIELD, Thomas 
Polly Tarby 
GANN, John 

Susan Johnson 
GANN, Marion 

Sarah Z. Wright 
GANN, Samuel 

Mary Hambrion 
GANTT, Eli 
Elizah Dunn 
GARDNER, Samuel 
Sarah E. H. Bowles 
GARDNER, S. A. 

Selina S. Durham 
GARLINGTON, James 
Martha Colquitt 
GARLINGTON, Thomas C. 

Elizabeth Edmondson 
GARNER, John J. 

Mary Cumbie 
GARNER, Thomas 
Martha Webb 
GARNER, William 
Elizabeth Webb 
GARNER, William D. 

Elizabeth Cheek 
GARRD, William W. 

Mary M. Urquhart 
GARRET, John 
Jean Greer 

GARRETT, Thomas B. 

Betsey Ann Cole 
GARROT, John 
Anny Cole 
GARROTT, Robert 
Mary Hale 

GARTRELLE, John O. 

Mary A. W. Randle 
GARTRELLE, William J. 

Eliza A. Scott 
GASTIN, Alex 
Sally Garner 
GASTON, John 
Martha Blanks 


June 7, 1859 
George C. Clarke 
September 8, 1802 

February 23, 1809 

May 1, 1801 

February 28, 1801 

January 5, 1856 
B. Rowland 
January 29, 1852 
Alfred L. Willis 
April 24, 1788 

June 28, 1856 
J. W. Reid, M. G. 
December 7, 1869 

December 8, 1870 
W. R. Wilson 
July 17, 1820 
William Tally, M. G. 

December 10, 1835 
Vincent R. Thornton 
February 14, 1856 
B. Rowland 
September 6, 1821 
Thomas Riley 
January 28, 1819 
Thomas Riley 
July 29, 1855 
B. Rowland 
August 4, 1840 

April 4, 1816 
Miller Hunter 
December 17, 1818 
John Park 
June 24, 1818 
L. Bethune 
October 5, 1818 

December 19, 1848 
L. G. Hillyer 
December 30, 1849 
Hinton Crawford 
December 9, 1802 

January 8, 1826 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


539 


GASTON, Matthew 
Rebekah Harden 
GASTON, Matthew 
Phereba Brown 
GASTON, William 
Louisa A. Fosett 
GASTON, William 
Sarah Matthews 
GASTON, William 
Mary Ann Wilson 
GATEWOOD, Phillip 
Sarah Colquitt 
GATLIN, Alpheus 
Mariah Gatlin 
GATLIN, Churchwell 
Patsey Moore 
GATLIN, Lemuel M. 

Elizabeth H. Jackson 
GATLIN, Major 
Darkes Gatlin 
GATLIN, Radford 
Elizabeth Daniel 
GAYLORD, Giles 
Ferriby Jones 
GENTRY, Burgess 
Polly Parrish 
GENTRY, John D. 

Nancy Copelan 
GENTRY, Seaborn 
Malinda Shirley 
GENTRY, Samuel 
Cynthia Connell 
GENTRY, William 
Mary Gilmer 
GENTRY, William H. 

Laura Tunnell 
GEORGE, John R. 

Lucy C. Anderson 
GEORGE, William 
Elizabeth Grimes 

GERDINE, George Augustus L. J. 

Anne Fleming Cartwright 
GERMANY, John 
Elizabeth Brown 
GETTATHEWS, George 
Cassandra Wells 
GIBBS, Miles 

Martha Shephard 
GIBBS, Thomas 
Nancy Maddox 

GIBBS, Thomas 

Julia Cornelia Ralls 


December 13, 1793 

April 11, 1827 

March 16, 1839 
Robert F. Griffin 
January 19, 1843 
R. F. Griffin 
August 2, 1849 
J. M. Kelly 
October 7, 1821 
C. Maddox 
May 1, 1826 

May 1, 1802 

March 8, 1829 
Ephraim Bruce 
September 21, 1808 
S. Gatlin 
June 5, 1818 

January 26, 1811 
Arthur Foster 
March 29, 1825 

April 25, 1850 
William Bryan 
August 6, 1839 

February 1, 1820 
Wm. McGiboney 
October 17, 1848 
W. T. Gaston 
December 28, 1871 
R. P. Perdue, M. G. 
February 1, 1859 
George C. Clarke 
October 10, 1821 
Thomas Johnson 
December 20, 1871 
Geo. W. Yarbrough 
March 7, 1806 

February 5, 1816 
N. Lewis 
October 3, 1803 

June 2, 1819 
Thomas Johnson 

May 26, 1842 
W. M. I. Hard 


540 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GIBSON, Henry A. 

Sarah A. Jones 
GIBSON, Isaiah 
Lydia White 
GIBSON, Isaiah 
Lydia White 
GIBSON, Thomas C. 

Clementine J. Reid 
GILBREATH, Daniel 
Martha Gwinn 
GILBERT, Robert 
Eliza Turner 
GILES, Thomas 
Mary Whatley 
GILES, William 
Nancy Daniel 
GILLEN, John 
Jane Caldwell 
GILLEN, Samuel T. 

Margaret J. Freeman 
GILMER, Joseph 
Susan Divine 
GILMORE, John 

Betsey Cartwright 
GIRDING, Charles 
Ann H. C. Green 
GLASS, B. 

Sally White 
GLASS, Elias 
Sally Wilson 
GLASS, James 
Penny Pace 
GLASS, Jonathan 
Milly Fullar 
GLASS, William 
Mary Baker 
GLASS, Z., Jr. 

Sally Wilson 
GLAWSON, Eli 

Mary Ann Divine 
GLAZE, Samuel 

Elizabeth Glosson 
GLAZIER, Hyram 
Nancy Lasseter 
CLOVER, L. L. 

Romelia N. Wheeler 
GODKIN, James W. 
Harriet A. Patrick 

GOOCH, Nathan 
Polly Jenkins 

GOODWIN, David W. 
Lucretia C. Littleton 


November 10, 1842 
B. M. Sanders 
November 24, 1804 

September 1, 1808 
Thomas Carleton 
November 23, 1869 
J. M. Dickey 
August 26, 1819 
Wm. McGiboney 
July 8, 1831 
J. P. Leveritt 
January 7, 1804 

April 11, 1805 

May 9, 1839 
James M. Davison 
December 21, 1875 
M. M. Landrum, M. G. 
February 13, 1853 
W. H. Blythe 
January 8, 1802 

April 17, 1854 
S. G. Hillyer 
August 20, 1803 

November 26, 1804 

June 25, 1805 

June 22, 1814 
John Browning 
October 7, 1799 

December 18, 1799 

October 15, 1849 
R. F. Griffin 
July 27, 1848 
W. T. Gaston 
September 24, 1804 

July 27, 1873 
M. M. Landrum 
March 18, 1827 
N. H. Harris 

August 19, 1819 
L. Bethune 

December 15, 1859 
James W. Godkin 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


541 


GORE, Thomas 
Mary Alford 
GORLEY, Jonathan 
Mary Beckom 
GOUGER. Stephen 
Julia Veazey 
GRAHAM, Joseph 
Nancy Catchings 
GRAHAM, Joseph 
Winney Gooch 
GRANT, Allen 

Mary Ann Barnhart 
GRANT, Cullen E. 

Robelia H. Bates 
GRANT, Daniel 
Lucy Crutchfield 
GRANT, James 
Eliza Wright 
GRANT, James T. 

Frances Hester 
GRANT, John G. 

Sarah F. Coley 
GRANT, John C. 

Texana Howell 
GRANT, Joseph 
Eliza L. Grant 
GRANT, J. T. 

Mary S. Chew 
GRANT, Thomas 
Mary P. Baird 
GRANT, William S. 

Nancy R. Lundy 
GRAVES, Joseph 
Mary Shorter 
GRAVES, Young W. 

Martha E. Holtzclaw 
GRAY, Archibald 
Cynthia Arnold 
GREENE, Augustus F. 

Amanda Jane Robertson 
GREENE, Benjamin F. 

Susan Amorette Greene 
GREENE, Farnafold 
Ruth Dawson 
GREENE, James H. 

Ann Raden 
GREENE, James H. 

Permelia D. Criswell 
GREENE, John 
Patsey Curtis 
GREENE, Joseph 
Tabitha Whatley 


November 26, 181$ 
Thomas Snow 
March 31, 1825 

November 4, 1819 

December 18, 1803 

December 20, 1808 
John Dingier 
January 4, 1855 
W. J. Hanley 
December 8, 1850 
Daniel Hightower 
June 20, 1810 
Josia Randle 
January 4. 1848 
James Moore 
July 4, 1872 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
December 10, 1861 
Joseph R. Parker 
October 14, 1870 

May 16, 1851 
Daniel Hightower 
April 6, 1841 
Thomas Stocks 
January 4, 1826 
Lovick Pierce, M. G. 
October 10, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
February 12, 1822 
James Woodberry 
November 12, 1857 

January 29, 1807 
Robert M. Cunningham 
January 27, 1840 

November 24, 1846 
Francis Bowman 
July 8, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 
January 27, 1853 
J. R. Hall 
October 2, 1864 
E. S. Williams 
May 20, 1821 
William Moore 
December 14, 1804 


542 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GREENE, Lamtiel 

Nancy Merritt 

GREENE, Lemuel 

Eliza Palmer 

GREENE, Lemuel 

Sarah Clements 

GREENE, Lemuel H. 

Frances King 

GREENE, Lemuel 

Pharibee Jane Hall 

GREENE, Walter 

Nancy W. Maddox 

GREENE, William 

Frances Tucker 

GREENWOOD, Thomas 

Nancy Mitchell 

GREENWOOD, Thomas 

Leonora Ann Mounger 
GREENWOOD, Thomas E. 

Emaline D. Baird 

GREER, Aquila 

Thene Yates 

GREER, Aquilla 

Sarah Sayers 

GREER, Archibald 

Elizabeth King 

GREER, David 

Sarah Grier 

GREER, D. L. 

Annie Durham 

GREER, Henry 

Nancy Hoobes 

GREER, Henry F. 

Ann A. Ragan 

GREER, Henry 

Polly Nichols 

GREER, Isaac 
lone Hays 

GREER, James 

Pansey Merritt 

GREER, John 

Elizabeth Greer 

GREER, John 

Emma Crawford 

GREER, John 

Emily Talbot 

GREER, John 

Jane Pinkard 

GREER, Richard 

Lucy Greer 

GREER, Robert 

Caroline McCoy 

October 22, 1806 
Jesse Lacey 
May 6, 1824 
Jack Lumpkin 
February 22, 1842 

August 21, 1843 
John W. Reid 
October 22, 1806 
James M. Kelly 
January 4, 1825 

July 3, 1822 
Robert Newsome 
April 25, 1805 

March 9, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
March 31, 1833 
Thos. P. C. Shelman 
August 11, 1814 
Thomas Johnson 
November 29, 1821 
Abraham Yates 
June 10, 1828 
William Cone 
December 19, 1822 
Jeremiah Ragan 
November 1, 1873 

May 12, 1818 

December 9, 1830 
Jack Lumpkin 
March 2, 1845 
Robert McWhorter 
March 25, 1800 

February 3, 1802 

April 1, 1805 

March 20, 1822 
Thomas Stocks 
June 23, 1830 
W. R. Barnett 
June 24, 1823 
A. B. Longstreet 
November 5, 1824 

January 31, 1822 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


543 


GREER, Thomas G. 

Catherine Stephens 
GREER, Thomas L. 

Elizabeth White 
GREER, William 
Deliah Haynes 
GREGORY, Benjamin F. 

Ann C. Ray 
GRESHAM, Albert 
Mary Wells 

GRESHAM, Albert W. 

Emma E. Lindsey 
GRESHAM, John H. 

Susan E. Rhymens 
GRESHAM, Sterling A. 

Sarah E. Stokes 
GRESHAM, Young 
Henson Harrison 
GRESHAM, Young Felix 
Sarah Jane Baugh 
GRIFFEN, John A. 

Anna L. Scudder 
GRIFFEN, Walter 
Rosina Willis 
GRIFFETH, Nathan 
Judith Booles 
GRIFFEY, John 
Frances Rainey 
GRIFFIN, Andrew J. 

Adaline Sanders 
GRIFFIN, Matthew 
Harriet Carroll 
GRIFFIN, Robert 
Susanna Brooks 
GRIFFITH, Jedekiah 
Jane Johnson 
GRIFFITH, Thomas 
Becky Akins 
GRIFFITH, William P. 

Sarah A. Eidson 
GRIFFITH, William V. 

Martha L. Dickson 
GRIMES, Henry 
Mary W. King 
GRIMES, James 
Lucenda King 
GRIMES, Jesse 
Rhoda Bates 
GRIMES, Joseph 

Eliza Cunningham 
GRIMES, Joseph 
Harriett Bouden 


December 20, 1831 
Williamson Bird 
June 16, 1831 
Williamson Bird 
January 15, 1794 

December 18, 1856 
John W. M. Barton 
May 10, 1827 
Jacob King, M. G. 
January 9, 1866 
R. A. Houston, M. G. 
January 26, 1865 
H. H. Fitzpatrick 
June 5, 1849 
Francis Bowman 
June 10, 1803 

June 15, 1858 
F. F. Reynolds 
May 4, 1871 
C. W. Lane, M. G. 
June 18, 1846 
Francis Bowman 
November 3, 1828 

December 19, 1825 

December 30, 1835 
John F. Hillyer 
January 6, 1824 

September 8, 1824 

June 20, 1848 
T. D. Martin, M. G. 
November 17, 1824 

December 21, 1856 
J. G. Holtzclaw 
December 16, 1860 
J. M. Stillwell 
February 24, 1831 
Francis Cummins 
January 29, 1833 
• James H. Taylor 
October 2, 1832 
Dickerson Jones 
October 21, 1824 

December 11, 1833 
William Park, M. G. 


544 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


GRIMES, R. M. 

Leila M. Jernigan 
GRIMES, Robert M. 

Lucy M. Jernigan 
GRIMES, Sterling F. 

Sarah Bowdre 
GRIMES, Thomas 

Frances Meriwether 
GRIMES, Thomas W. 

Anne Coleman 
GRIMES, William P. 

Martha A. Sayers 
GRIMETT, Robert 
(widow) 

GUILL, William B. 

Virginia Moody 
GUISE, Isaac N. 

Nancy Corry 
GUNTER, William M. 

Sarah Harper 
GUR, John L. 

Mary Wright 
GWYNN, Thomas 
Emily Crossley 
HACKNEY, John 
Nancy Musgrove 
HACKNEY, Samuel 
Cornelia C. Dorsey 
HACKNEY, William 
Patsy Barker 
HAGABY, Joshua 
Sally Wester 
HAGERTY, Abel 
Anna Buckannan 
HAILES, Henry J. 

Margaret Findley 
HAILES, John T. 

Amanda A. Hall 
HAILEY, James A. 

Mary E. Crenshaw 
HAISTEN, James 

Margaret Cartwright 
HALL, Dickson 
Priscilla Baugh 
HALL, Edihugh 
Elizabeth Kelly 
HALL, George 
Malenda Dunn 
HALL, George 

Nancy Slaughter 
HALL, Hugh 
Sally Hall 


February 10, 1870 
C. P. Beeman 
April 6, 1874 

May 5, 1841 
George Pierce 
June 29, 1843 
Francis Bowman 
January 11, 1844 
Otis Smith 
January 28, 1858 
Charles W. Launius 
July 10, 1788 

March 26, 1856 
John G. Holtzclaw 
October 26, 1831 
C. T. Beeman 
September 2, 1870 

December 1, 1838 
James M. Porter 
April 12, 1846 
L. B. Jackson 
October 25, 1815 
Evans Myrick 
November 1, 1868 
James Davison 
October 5, 1818 

February 11, 1801 

December 30, 1803 

April 29, 1852 
J. T. Findley 
January 30, 1868 
William Bryan 
April 20, 1852 
John R. Young 
August 12, 1819 
John Harris 
November 5, 1818 

September 21, 1825 

May 5, 1822 
Thomas Riley 
April 17, 1824 

March 2, 1803 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


545 


HALL, Hugh 
Mary Brown 
HALL, Hugh A. 

Susan Ann Jackson 
HALL, Isaac R. 

Sarah E. Hall 
HALL, James D. 

Sarah Pyron 
HALL, James B. 

Missouri A. Corry 
HALL, John 
Polly Little 
HALL, John 

Nancy E. Leverett 
HALL, John L. 

Emma A. Zimmerman 
HALL, Josiah T. 

Elizabeth Taylor 
HALL, Samuel 
Nancy Smith 
HALL, Samuel 
Nancy Malone 
HALL, Vincent S. 

Mary E. Hall 
HALL, Young 

Mariah Ann Howell 
HAMES, A. Baker 
Macon Hester 
HAMMETT, James 
Elizabeth Brooker 
HAMMOND, Robert 
Lovy Hines 
HAMMOND, William 
Mary Johnson 
HAMMOND, William 
Nancy Clark 
HANCOCK, George 
Elizabeth O’Neal 
HANCOCK, George P. 

Nannie E. Stewart 
HANCOCK, Henry L. 

Katherine Elizabeth Stewart 
HANCOCK, Henry W. 

Elva Emma Saggus 
HANCOCK, James A. 

Mattie Simpson 
HAND, Richard 

Unity Medley (Uny) 
HARALSON, Braddy B. 

Martha Ann Chambers 
HARALSON, Hugh 
Caroline M. Lewis 


November 10, 1824 

August 17, 1848 
L. B, Jackson 
May 14, 1863 
L. B, Jackson 
October 15, 1861 
Hinton Crawford 
February'26, 1857 
J. S. K. Axson 
August 27, 1811 
Josiah Randle 
March 17, 1834 
A. Hutckeson 
November 5, 1863 
R. A. Houston, M. G. 
October 3, 1855 
W. H. C. Cone, M. G. 
February 26, 1806 

February 7, 1840 
Jas. C. Hutchinson 
September 3, 1872 
W. D. Atkinson 
September 7, 1825 
Thos. Slaughter 
September 21, 1871 
W. R. Foote, M. G. 
June 13, 1816 
George Owen 
April 5, 1810 
Robert Rea 
April 2, 1816 
Francis Cummins 
September 22, 1835 
J. P. Leverett 
November 7, 1847 
John W. Reid 
October 29, 1874 
C. H. Strickland 
July 14, 1864 
John O’Neal 
March 25, 1854 
W. A, Overton 
May 23, 1872 
Henry Newton 
June 25, 1842 

December 21, 1848 
W. H. C. Cone 
November 27, 1828 
Lovick Pierce 



546 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


HARALSON, Jesse B. 

Elizabeth R. Conyers 
HARALSON, Kenchin L. 
Jane W. Lewis 

Haralson, Vincent 

Lucy English 
HARBIN, James T. 

Fanny Pitman 
HARDEN, Henry 

Mary Ann Watson 
HARDIN, James 
Matilda Richards 
HARDWICK, James 
Violet Elder 
HARDY, W. J. 

Hannah Rimes 
HARGIN, Alex 
Gressy Bonon 
HARGROOVES, Sanford 
Frances Bickers 
HARLBERT. Roswell 
Frances Ella Davis 
HARLOW, James B. 

Ella Greer 
HARP, Samuel 
J. Clemens 
HARP, William 
Polly Brewer 
HARPER, Allen 
Lucy Smith 
HARPER, Axamins 
E. Ward 

HARPER, George A. 

Sophy J. Perkins 
HARREN, James H. 

Rosamounds A. Caldwell 
HARRIS, Benjamin 
Susan Pyron 
HARRIS, Charles 
Tabitha Gibbs 
HARRIS, Charles F. 

Rachael James 
HARRIS, Elica 

Nancy W. Hudson 
HARRIS, Henry C. 

Mary H. Taylor 
HARRIS, James 
Lucretia Jones 
HARRIS, James 

Abigail Fambrough 
HARRIS, Jesse 

Rachael Pendleton 


March 22, 1827 
James Culberson 
February 28, 1833 
Sam J. Cassels 
January 10, 1809 
William Greer 
December 24, 1872 
H. C. Peek 
March 17, 1829 
Ephraim Bruce 
March 27, 1821 
John Harris 
May 10, 1805 

December 10, 1804 

November 28, 1796 

April 27, 1833 
Lovick Pierce, M. G. 
July 11, 1871 

February 16, 1874 

September 23, 1810 
W. Johnson 
December 23, 1799 

February 28, 1801 

January 3, 1805 

May 6, 1858 
J. M. Wragg 
January 1, 1837 
Thomas W. Grimes 
November, 1829 

December 20, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
December 7, 1831 
Joshua Cannon 
May 10, 1800 

June 16, 1848 
John B. Chappell 
November 10, 1817 
Francis Cummins 
July 5, 1833 
John H. Ray 
January 12, 1789 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


547 


HARRIS, Jesse 

Louisa Rainwater 
HARRIS, John 

Betsy Wilkinson 
HARRIS, John 

Henrietta Jackson 
HARRIS, John M. 

Olive Stevens 
HARRIS, John T. 

Frances C. Leslie 
HARRIS, J. P. 

Mary Elizabeth Allen 
HARRIS, Myles G. 

Lucy Elizabeth Seymor 
HARRIS, Nathaniel N. 

Ellen N. Victory 
HARRIS, Robert 
Mary Freeman 
HARRIS, Robert L. 

Susan L. Head 
HARRIS, Capt. S. B. 

Patience Williams 
HARRIS, Seaborn 
Polly Shaw 
HARRIS, Singleton 
Maria Acre© 

HARRIS, Thomas McCall 
Margaret Baldwin 
HARRIS, Thomas 
Sarah Hall 
HARRIS. Thomas 
Elizabeth Bunkley 
HARRIS, Thomas 
Catherine Baldwin 
HARRIS, Thomas 

Burget Ann Burford 
HARRIS, William 
Hannah Hogg 
HARRIS, William 
Matilda Blanks 
HARRIS, William 
Chrisaline Bruce 
HARRIS, William L. M. 

Sementha D. Johnson 
HARRIS, William L. U. 

Sarah F. Johnson 
HARRISON, Benjamin 
Jane Matthews 
HARRISON, James 
Mary Harrison 
HARRISON, James W. 
Elender T. Evans 


December 1, 1838 

March 19, 1816 
Robert Plea 
April 29, 1846 
Francis Bowman 
June 10, 1819 
Thomas Johnson 
February 1, 1852 
Hart C. Peek 
January 6, 1878 
J. F. Hester 
April 2, 1845 
Francis Bowman, M. G. 
December 14. 1826 
Lovick Pierce, M. G. 
July 13, 1818 
Jesse Mercer 
August 3, 1875 
F. G. Hughes 
December 9, 1794 

December 19, 1823 

December 23, 1822 
Horatio A. B. Nunnally 
August 27, 1804 

August 8, 1829 
George Hall 
April 12, 1836 
William Cone 
March 3, 1840 
James Jones 
July 22, 1852 

August 23, 1787 

October 5, 1818 

February 19, 1846 
H. Lawrence 
December 3, 1850 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
October 13, 1856 

December 11. 1815 
Thomas Stocks 
July 31, 1801 

February 10, 1831 
Leveritt V. Dee 


548 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


HARRISON, Robert 

May 6, 1821 

Isabel Pattillo 

William Tally 

HARRUP, James 

August 14, 1816 

Ridley Harrup 

Arch McCoy 

HARRUP, Warren 

February 11, 1849 

Anselina T. Taylor 

L. B. Jackson 

HART, Isaac 

September 20, 1855 

Polly Merritt 

W. W. Moore 

HART, John S. 

September 10, 1857 

Martha J. Leveret 

W. W. Moore 

HART, Thomas 

January 18, 1810 

Ann Barnett 

Clayborn Maddox 

HART, William M. 

January 12, 1869 

Mary E. Nave 

Philip H. Robinson 

HARVELL, Daniel 

November 11, 1801 

Mary Cosal 

HARVILL, Thomas 

September 4, 1818 

Mary Chatham 

Lovick Pierce 

HARWELL, James M. 

April 14, 1857 

Sarah Lou Smith Moore 

G. Bright, M. G. 

HARWELL, William 

March 21, 1816 

Polly Hobbs 

John Browning 

HATCHETT, John 

December 18, 1820 

Eliza Tuggle 

Lemuel Greene 

HATTON, Thomas 

March 15, 1810 

Nancy Lacey 

William Cone 

HAWKE, John 

July 4, 1830 

Mary Head 

Matthew Winfield 

HAWKES, Peter 

January 4, 1806 

Polly Roberts 

HAYES, Ezekeil 

May 2, 1874 

Rebecca Shelton 

HAYES, Robert 

May 2, 1880 

Susan Beckham 

Lovick Pierce 

HAYES, William 

October 26, 1801 

Polly Heard 


HAYNES, Jasper 

January 15, 1846 

Elizabeth Armstrong 

S. G. Hillyer 

HAYNES, John 

September 3, 1829 

Elizabeth McKnight 

Robert Newsom 

HAYNES, Parmenas 

October 10, 1843 

Mary Anne Tuggle 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

HAYNES, Robert 

May 16, 1825 

Elizabeth Reid 

HAYS, Howard 

April 19, 1853 

Sarah A. V. Walker 

J. W. Yarbrough 

HAYS, William 

March 29, 1805 

Nell Luckey 

HAZEL, John 

August 4, 1816 

Leonard Levine 

Thomas Bush 

HAZLETT, Wilson 

September 14, 1875 

Nancy Mullins 

D. H. Moncrief 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


549 


HEARD, Franklin 

February 22, 1820 

Anne Bozeman 

HEARD, James T. 

July 5, 1866 

Amorette Greene 

Philip B. Robinson 

HEARD, John 

January 26, 1805 

Nancy Wallis 

HEARD, John T. 

January 12, 1860 

Margaret F. Mitchell 

H. H. Tucker, M. G. 

HEARD, Stephen I, 

November 30, 1840 

Lucy S. Foster 

HEARD, Thomas 

January 7, 1830 

Ann Richards 

Peter Johnson 

HEARD, Woodrow 

May 29, 1805 

Polly Peoples 

HEARD, W. T. 

November 9, 1875 

Lula W. Moore 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

HEARN, Clem Freana 

October 31, 1858 

Martha L. Hester 

John Calvin Johnson 

HEARN, William T. 

May 22, 1867 

Betsy Ann Armor 

John W. Talley, M. G. 

HEATH, Matthew 

November 28, 1831 

Elizabeth Clements 

Ephraim Bruce 

HEATH, Rylan 

April 26, 1808 

Ann Gilbert 

C. Maddox 

HECK, Thomas 

August 17, 1818 

Elizabeth Sturdivant 

William Cone 

WHTTF'IELD, Hedge 

December 10, 1817 

Elizabeth Greene 

William Cone 

HEFLIN, James 

February 19, 1802 

Sarah Winn 

HEFLIN, James 

December 30, 1805 

Nancy Thurmon 

HEFLIN, James 

December 31, 1906 

Nancy Thurmon 

William Browning 

HEMPHILL, Hiram 

December 22, 1840 

Jane Moore 

Francis Bowman 

HEMPHILL, Thompson 

January 21, 1808 

Rhoda Baggett 

John Dingier, M. G. 

HEMPHILL, William 

October 10, 1800 

Nancy Hughes 

HENDEL, Homer 

June 1, 1847 

Frances King 

Francis Bowman 

HENDERSON. Joseph M. 

February 18, 1864 

Emma H. J. Dawson 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

HENDRICKS, James A. 

December 28, 1865 

Frances V. Pollard 

William R. Wilson 

HENDRY, C. M. 

January 5, 1873 

L. A. Blackman 

W. A. Moore 

HENRY, Thomas Watt 

January 13, 1852 

Mary Francis Cunningham 

HENSON, Louden 

November 8, 1829 

Nancy Robinson 

John Chew 


550 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


HERMON, William 
Betsy R. Hilton 
HERN, William 
Peggy Haynes 
HERN, Zabad 
Lydia Rumsey 
HESTER, Francis 

Mary Ann McCowen 
HESTER, Robert A. 

Rozanah Martin 
HESTER, Simeon 

Ann Elizabeth Tuggle 
HARMON, Hete 
Elizabeth West 
HEWSTON, John 
Nancy Harris 
HICKEY, William 
Mary Connell 
HI EAR, Coanelius 
Amanda Fisher 

HIGGINBOTHAM, Riley N. 

Martha Little 
HIGHTOWER, Daniel 
Betsy Johnson 

HIGHTOWER, Daniel Lee 
Mary A. Credille 
HIGHTOWER, Elisha 
Polly Oslin 
HIGHTOWER, Jacob 
Nancy Colbert 
HIGHTOWER, Matthew 
Mary Copeland 
HIGHTOWER, Oscar T. 

Mary R. Tunnison 
HIGHTOWER, Pressly 
Polly Ann Woodson 
HIGHTOWER, Stephen 
Sally Coplan 
HIGHTOWER, Thomas 
Minny Credille 
HIGHTOWER, William 
Becka Dawsey 
HIGHTOWER, William 
Nancy Parrott 
HILL, Abner R. 

Mary Anne Fitzpatrick 
HILL, James 

Christian Laseter 

HILL, James 

Elizabeth Smith 

HILL, James 

Lucy Baldwin 


November 10, 1802 

September 4, 1825 
James Culberson 
July 21, 1818 

August, 1837 

July 6, 1837 
John Hendricks, M. G. 
November 27, 1866 
William A. Overton 
September 9, 1819 
Robert Booth 
December 17, 1807 
George Stovall 
September 12, 1844 
J. J. Howell 
March 25, 1873 
Jas. W. Godkin 
March 8, 1868 
Jas. H. McWhorter 
May 24, 1801 

May 19, 1843 
Wesley Arnold, M. G. 
December 31, 1816 
Gilly Moore 
February 18, 1799 

October 2, 1821 
H. G. Slaughter 
January 13, 1870 
Albert Gray, M. G. 
September 3, 1805 

December 21, 1815 
Gilly Moore 
December 18, 1838 
Hinton Crawford 
December 10, 1807 
J. Mapp 
August 29, 1838 

April 27, 1844 
E. S. Hunter 
September 15, 1806 

March 14, 1825 
Horatio Nunnally 

January 10, 1830 
S. W. Michael 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


551 


HILL, Joseph 

Henrietta W. Dawson 
HILL, Robert 

Elvina Bledsoe 
HILL, William 
Lucy Purdue 
HILL, William G. 

Ella F. Poulain 
HILLSMAN, Jeffrs E. 

Martha Alexander 
HILLSMAN, Micajah 
Nancy Barnett 
HILLYER, S. C. 

Elizabeth T. Dagg 
HINES, Nathaniel 
Martha Lewis 
HINES, Nathaniel 
Elizabeth Lewis 
HINES, Sabury R. 

Susan Anderson 
HINTON, L. H. 

Nancy L. Broom 
HITCHCOCK, Samuel Chewer 
Louisa Marion Walker 
HIXON, E. C. 

Ezenomia A. Thornton 
HIX, Ephraim 
Edith Lucas 
HOBBS, Isham 

Martha Lankford 
HOBBS, James 

Jurasha Adkinson 
HOBBS, Joseph 

Peggy Summerland 
HOBBS, Nathan 
Mary Lankeford 
HODGE, Alston 
Phaney Barker 
HODGE, Alston 

Mary Jane Dunson 
HODGE, James 
Louisa Coleman 
HODGES, James 
Polly Price 
HODGES, John, Jr. 

; Ruthy Hodges 
HOGG, Henry T. 

Sarah Ann Burgess 
HOGG, Hugh 
Margaret Ray 
HOGG, Isaac 

Mary Caldwell 


July 11, 1849 
Francis Bowman 
October 2, 1825 
Jack Lumpkin 
June 14, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
April 25, 1861 
R. A. Houston 
September 12, 1814 
John Howell 
July 15, 1825 

May 12, 1846 
P. H. Mell 
July 26, 1815 
Walker Lewis 
September 16, 1824 

September 29, 1850 
William Bryan 
July 5, 1852 
W. W. Moore 
December 21, 1851 
Francis Bowman 
June 22, 1865 
John R. Young, M. G. 
October 25, 1804 

May 6, 1821 
Abraham Yates 
September 27, 1810 
Thomas Stocks 
January 25, 1807 
Jon Cox 
November 16, 1812 
Ebenezer Torrence 
November 9, 1827 

February 25, 1841 
E. P. Jarrell 
October 31, 1820 
George Watkins 
July 23, 1818 

March 26, 1818 
L. Bethune 
September 4, 1851 
James Greer 
February 8, 1818 

October 20, 1833 
Nathan Hobbs 


552 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


HOGG, John 

Susan Johnson 
HOGG, Mathew 
Lucy Read 
HOGG, William 
Mary Forrester 
HOGG, William D. 

Nancy Ann Johnson 
HODNETTE, James 
Sarah Greer 
HOLCOMB, H. L. 

L. A. Devereaux 
HOLLAND, Harrison 
Elizabeth Rowland 
HOLLAND, Tobias 
Mary A. Watson 
HOLLAND, Thomas 
Elizabeth Wall 
HOLLIDAY, John 
Kitty Colleman 
HOLLIDAY, William 
Elizabeth Neel 
HOLLOWAY, David 
Polee Hardeys 
HOLMES, George P. 

Mary Jane Swindall 
HOLNS, John 
Nancy East 
HOLT, David S. 

S. Catherine Godkin 
HOLT, Robert 
Emily Moore 
HOLT, Thomas 

Charity Slaughter 
HOLTSCLAW, John G.. 

Lucy M. Nusum (Newcom) 
HORN, Edward 
Sally Butler 
HORN, John 

Elizabeth Allen 
HORN, Preston A. 

Mary Ann Purdue 
HORTON, James W. 

Georgianna A. Hart 
HOUSE, John H. 

Armenia H. Medley 
HOUSE, John 
Mary Bell 
HOUSE, Lion S. 

Elizabeth Shirley 

Houghton, Alex 

Tabitha Cheatham 


January 20, 1825 

August 11, 1807 
J. Mapp 
December 22, 1835 
Vincent R. Thornton 
September 4, 1845 
W. H. C. Cone 
November 2, 1820 
James Brookman 
November 23, 1845 

I. W. Simmons 
December 2, 1802 

August 10, 1872 

J. H. Kilpatrick 
September 24, 1821 

Hermon Mercer 
April 20, 1809 
Josia Randle 
August 13, 1789 

December 15, 1807 
O. Porter 
August 25, 1831 
Wm. Rowland 
October 17, 1807 
A. Gresham 
August 26, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
December 15, 1829 
Thomas Darley 
April 27, 1830 
J. P. Leverett 
December 14, 1825 

February 9, 1810 
Ben. Crawford 
September 10, 1828 
Joshua Cannon 
September 30, 1835 
George Heard 
February 12, 1852 
Alfred T. Mann 
August 14, 1840 
J. M. Wilson 
November 17, 1849 

March 8, 1842 
I. M. Wilson 

November 19, 1799 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


553 


HOUGHTON, Alexander 

May 15, 1815 

Rebecah Finley 

John Armor 

HOUGHTON, Henry W. 

April 4, 1837 

Martha Ann Rebecca Dolvin 

W. R. H. Mosely 

HOUGHTON, James 

August 11, 1788 

Sarah Burke 

HOUGHTON, James 

December 19, 1822 

Lourena Thornton 

Lovick Pierce 

HOUGHTON, James R. 

December 18, 1866 

Orphelia T. Gentry 

Thos. F. Pierce 

HOUGHTON, Josiah 

November 26, 1804 

Elizabeth Crawford 

HOUGHTON, Matthew 

December 12, 1827 

Elizabeth King 

William Cone 

HOUGHTON, Seaborn 

February 21, 1822 

Ann Newsom 

Abraham Yeats 

HOUGHTON, William 

March 3. 1788 

Elizabeth Burke 

HOUGHTON, William M. 

January 18, 1842 

Mary S. Smith 

James Jones, M. G. 

HOWARD, James 

August 24, 1822 

Nancy Wells 

Abraham Yeats 

HOWELL, Allen 

August 19, 1805 

S. Thompson 

HOWELL, Alonzo 

January 18, 1860 

Annett Parrott 

HOWELL, Clark 

March 26, 1863 

Margaret A. Park 

W. J. Cotter, M. G. 

HOWELL, Daniel 

April 7, 1824 

Mary Oalin 

HOWELL, David 

November 21, 1865 

Mrs. Bettie A. Florence 

R. A. Houston, M. G. 

HOWELL, Matthew C. 

March 31, 1831 

Sarah M. Simonton 

C. P. Beeman 

HOWELL, Nathaniel 

March 27, 1804 

Elizabeth Wagner 

HOWELL, William J. 

November 21, 1871 

Anna Jernigan 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

HOWELL, Wyly 

November 9, 1803 

Sally Wiggins 

HUBBARD, Andrew Jackson 

September 29, 1836 

Elizabeth Gatlin 

James W. Godkin 

HUBBARD, Augustus 

March 9, 1847 

Martha Jones 

N. M. Crawford 

HUBBARD, James 

January 5, 1826 

Sarah Tippett 

HUBBARD, Larkin 

November 11, 1830 

Elizabeth Yates 

John Armstrong 

HUBBARD, Thomas 

October 25, 1831 

Sarah Jackson 

Benjamin F. Martin 

HUBBARD, William H. 

June 5, 1826 

Irene Jackson 


554 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


HUCKABY, James 
Mary Griffen 
HUDSON, Garrett 
Polly Parker 
HUDSON, John 
Martha Patrick 
HUDSON, Thomas 
Elizabeth Patrick 
HUDSON, Ward 
Jimmy Haynes 
HUFF, John 

Malinda Martin 
HUFF, Ralph 
Polly Palmore 
HUGHES, John 
Nancy Holloway 
HUGHES, John 
Alis Dixon 
HUGHES, John 
Frances Bryant 
HUGHES, William M. 

Mary A. Cant 
HUGHEY, Thomas 
Sam B. Fielder 
HUMPHRIES, Noel M. 

Frances E. Rainwater 
HUNNICUTT, Matthew R. 

Martha L. McGraw 
HUNT, Anderson 
Archy Tyler 
HUNT, George 

Susannah Ware Martin 
HUNT, James 
Agnes Hunt 
HUNT, James T. 

Rebecca May 
HUNT, John 

Elizabeth Sorrell 
HUNT, Timothy 
Letitia Mayfield 
HUNTER, Edward 
Sarah Davis 
HUNTER, Elisha S. 

Ann E. Ralls 
HUNTER, Henry M. 

Ann J. King 
HUNTER, Phillip 
Mary Jackson 
HUNTER, Samuel 
Charity Whatley 
HUNTER, William A. 
Sophronia A, Heard 


February 18, 1828 

April 5, 1802 

March 15, 1807 
Adams Hays 
October 25, 1810 
Jon Heard 
February 19, 1805 

December 25, 1818 
Thomas Riley 
December 4, 1817 

January 22, 1800 

December 15, 1805 

December 2, 1855 
B. Rowland 
May 31, 1864 
J. F. Simmerman 
January 24, 1827 

October 23, 1870 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
October 20, 1850 
A. L. Willis 
September 29, 1818 
L. Bethune 
February 28, 1816 
William Cone, J. P. 
March 8, 1800 

October 23, 1834 
Nathan Hobbs 

_ 4, 1807 

Henry English 
November 26, 1815 
James Martin 
October 19, 1820 
John Harris 
October 4, 1836 
Thomas Stocks 
December 10, 1833 
James Donnelly 
April 6, 1806 
, Jesse Lacey 
February 7, 1800 

April 8, 1826 



HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


555 


HUNTER, William C. 

Lucinda Bowles 
HUNTER, William C. 

Elizabeth Scoggins 
HURLBERT, Roswell 
Gasandria Corlew 
HURLBERT, Roswell 
Eliza Hamilton 
HURT, George 
Lucy Wilkins 
HUTCHESON, Albert M. 

Henrietta L. Champion 
HUTCHESON, John 
Evelina A. Greene 
HUTCHINSON, Albert S. 

Harriet A. Lawrence 
HUTCHINSON, Ambrose 
Rachael Robins 
HUTCHINSON, Charles R. 

Mary Kimbrough 
HUTCHINSON, James 
Jane Walker 

HUTCHINSON, Richard 
Harriet Furlow 

HUTCHINSON, Seaborn L. 

Martha J. Champion 
IDSON, John 
Alary Corry 
INGRAM, Abraham 
Nancy Greer 
INGRAM, James G. 

Rebecca McGibony 
IRBY, Abraham 
Tabitha Evans 
IRBY, Eli 

Mary A. Tunnel! 

IRBY Elisha 

Elizabeth Satterwhite 
IRBY, Thomas F. 

Martha M. Peek 
IRVING, Carnell 

Catherine E. Keith 
IRWIN, James 
Amanda Nisbet 
IVEY, Jerry 

Fanny Williams 
IVEY, John 

Nancy Evans 
IVY, James 

Lucinda Rowland 


August 4, 1835 

October 9, 1837 

September 20, 1812 
J. W. Godkin 
April 29, 1828 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 25, 1827 
Abraham Yeats 
November 27, 1866 
B. F. Breedlove 
May 12, 1831 
J. N. Gleen 
November 28, 1839 

March 30, 1815 
John Turner 
October 23, 1856 
J. P. Duncan, M. G. 
December 22, 1829 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 23, 1841 
Thomas Stocks 
June 2, 1851 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
October 25, 1821 
Robert Booth 
February 28, 1801 

October 6, 1859 
Jos. R. Parker 
December 6, 1821 
Wm. Robertson 
February 27, 1850 
W. A. Corry 
July 17, 1842 
E. P. Jarrell 
November 15, 1849 
J. J. Louder milk 
December 6, 1855 
J. P. Duncan 
March 8, 1816 
Francis Cummins 
April 4, 1801 

February 27, 1823 
John Harris 
October 4, 1838 
Robert T. Griffin 


IVY, Jeremiah 

Milly Shockley 


August 27, 1811 
W. McGiboney 


556 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


IVY, Jordan 
Polly Smith 
IVY, Jordan 

Patience Woods 
IVY, Josiah 

Patience Williams 
JACKS, John W. 

Anna Carson 
JACKSON, Aldridge 
Celia Pendergrass 
JACKSON, Alexander J. S. 

Sarah F. Hudson 
JACKSON, Alfred 
Martha Wright 
JACKSON, Alfred H. 

Julia E. Parrott 
JACKSON, Allen 
Elizabeth Short 
JACKSON, Andrew F. 

Adaline M. O’Neal 
JACKSON, Arthur M. 

Sarah Elizabeth Heater 
JACKSON, Daniel 
Sally Bowen 
JACKSON, Daniel 
Mary Phillips 
JACKSON, Daniel 
Cassandra Maddox 
JACKSON, David 
Rachel Lewis 
JACKSON, David 
Elizabeth Bickers 
JACKSON, Edmond 
Abbe Jackson 
JACKSON, Edmund 
Sally Shaw 
JACKSON, Floyd 
Mary Fambrough 
JACKSON, George A. 

Fanny V. Baker 
JACKSON, Henry 
Delilah Gordon 
JACKSON, Isaac 
Elizabeth Perkins 
JACKSON, Isaac 
Louisa Caldwell 
JACKSON, Isaac M. 

Sarah F. Smith 
JACKSON, Israel 
Amy W. Callahan 
JACKSON. Jocab 
Patsy Simes 


December 8, 1817 

March 29, 1827 
Wm. L. Austin 
August 11, 1803 

December 11, 1873 
C. H. Strickland 
April 15, 1824 

December 4, 1860 

March 31, 1844 
J. J. Howell 
October 10, 1850 
W. W. Moore 
November 15, 1830 
Lewis Pyron 
April 4, 1867 
L. D. Caldwell 
February 12, 1867 
John Calvin Johnson 
January 15, 1805 

November 20, 1806 
Thomas Crawford 
January 14, 1823 
Thomas Stanley, M. G. 
November 30, 1796 

August 2, 1824 

December 23, 1806 
O. Porter 
December 19, 1823 


May 29, 1866 
J. W. Tally, M. G. 
December 20, 1809 
William Watson 
January 25, 1821 
Jo Roberts 
July 12, 1825 
John Harris 
September 13, 1866 
Hart C. Peek, M. G. 
December 21, 1845 
S. G. Hillyer 
November 19, 1807 
Frances S. Martin 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


557 


JACKSON, James 

December 2, 1827 

Mary Underwood 

William Cone 

JACKSON, James 

April 10, 1828 

Nancy Lewis 

John Harris 

JACKSON, James 

April 2, 1846 

Electra Ann Bird 

William Parks 

JACKSON, James A. 

. November 27, 1856 

Martha Fullingham 

William T. Merritt 

JACKSON, James W. 

February 5, 1840 

Catherine M. Butler 

Francis Bowman 

JACKSON, James W. 

September 9, 1852 

Martha A. Broom 

Daniel Hightower 

JACKSON, Job 

October 7, 1819 

Mary Heard 

John Harris 

JACKSON, John 

April 15, 1800 

Jane Richards 

JACKSON, John 

February 18, 1818 

Mary Webb 

Thomas Riley 

JACKSON, John E. 

April 16, 1833 

Martha Ann Eliza Davis 

Albert R. Jackson 

JACKSON, John E. 

January 1, 1862 

Julia A. Hudson 

JACKSON, John H. 

November 2, 1872 

Eliza J. Moore 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

JACKSON, John S. 

July 6, 1856 

Artimisa Hall 

L. R. L. Jennings 

JACKSON, John S. 

March 2, 1865 

Alice G. Jones 

JACKSON, Jesse W. 

March 15, 1863 

Julia C. Tunnell 

W. G. Johnson 

JACKSON, Littleberry 

July 4, 1827 

Patience Harris 

JACKSON, Littleberry 

January 11, 1840 

Frances Parmelia Ivy 

Thomas Stocks 

JACKSON, Luther R. 

May 11, 1875 

Emma A. Carlton 

F. G. Hughes, M. G. 

JACKSON, Mark 

December 17, 1828 

Elizabeth R. Pyron 

Joshua Cannon 

JACKSON, Martin 

September 13, 1826 

Rachael Martindale 

JACKSON, Martin 

October 11, 1832 

Frances Hendricks 

William Moncrief 

JACKSON, Martin 

April 19, 1853 

Mary E. Harris 

A. L. Willis 

JACKSON, Moody 

September 9, 1833 

Patience T. Bishop 

Thos. W. Grimes 

JACKSON. Peter 

March 16, 1796 

Mary Lindall 

JACKSON, R. H. 

January 14, 1847 

Mary E. Hall 

L. B. Jackson 

JACKSON, Robert B. 

December 13, 1874 

Lilly V. Jones 

J. H. Kilpatrick 


558 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


JACKSON, Robert Hausen 
Mary M. Ely 
JACKSON, Roling 

Susannah Richards 
JACKSON, Stephen 
Jimmy Brooks 
JACKSON, Thomas 
Pearly Bullwood 
JACKSON, Thomas 
Mary Smith 
JACKSON, William 
Holly Harwell 
JACKSON, William 
Martha Foster 
JACKSON, William N. 

June Daniel 
JACKSON, Wm. T. 

Mary A. E. Brooks 
JAMES, Henry 
Mary Grier 
JAMES, John 

Priscilla Greer 
JAMES, Williamson 
Rachel Martindals 
JANES, Thomas 
Malinda West 
JANES, Thomas G. 

Elizabeth P. Sanford 
JARRELL, (Giles) Jacob 
Millie Chandler 
JARRELL, Jacob 
Frances Williams 
JARRELL, Redden 
Elizabeth Johnson 
JARRELL, Willis 
Mary Campbell 
JARROLD, Reben 
Ann Gentry 

JEFFERSON, Francis M. 

Elizabeth Chappell 
JEFFERSON, William M. 

Mary Chappie 
JEFFREY, Thomas 
Elizabeth Morris 
JEFFRIES, William 
Nancy Tuggle 
JENKINS, Elijah 
Amy Daniel 
JENKINS, Harmond 
Julia Ann Simpkins 
JENKINS, James R. 

Milly Gresham 


March 12, 1844 
J. J. Howell 
September 20, 1807 
J. Mapp 
July 9, 1805 

August 28, 1807 
John Robertson 
December 5, 1826 

March 9, 1816 
John Browning 
March 23, 1830 
J. P. Leveritt 
November 26, 1824 

February 23, 1869 
J. M. Dickey 
March 7, 1825 

January 9, 1823 
Jeremiah Ragan 
October 6, 1828 

January 30, 1821 
Jesse Mercer 
July 28, 1839 
S. H. Hillyer, M. G. 
December 28, 1820 
Francis West 
May 8, 1828 
Francis West 
July 15, 1836 
James Moore 
December 27, 1818 
Thomas Shaw 
December 24, 1868 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
November 17, 1859 
Geo. C. Clarke 
October 15, 1857 
G. Bright, M. G. 
December 23, 1803 

October 24, 1806 
Jesse Lacey 
February 13, 1797 

April 16, 1834 

April 19, 1807 
William Browning 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


559 


JENKINS, James 

July 5, 1810 

Betsy Duncan 

Bennett Crawford 

JENKINS, James A. T. 

October 5, 1838 

Frances B. Sanders 

James W. Godkin 

JENKINS, John 

September 13, 1845 

Meron L. Hobbs 

JENKINS, Jesse 

February 24, 1805 

Anne Martin 

JENKINS, Mass 

October 28, 1875 

Ophelia E. Jenkins 

Philip Robinson 

JENKINS, Pleasant U. 

November 9, 1851 

Harriet A. Daniel 

William Jones 

JENKINS, Robert 

April 3, 1806 

Sarah B. Johnson 

Thos. Crawford 

JENKINS, Waites 

May 25, 1843 

Jane H. McHargue 

John W. Reid 

JENNINGS, Giles 

January 11, 1820 

Mary Hague 

Lemuel Greene 

JENNINGS, Henry 

February 13, 1866 

Elizabeth J. McWhorter 

J. M. Stillwell, M. G. 

JERNIGAN, Albert 

December 23, 1822 

Lucy Perkins 

JERNIGAN, Albert 

January 14, 1861 

Henrietta M. Shaffer 

A. Gray, M. G. 

JERNIGAN, Albert A. 

October 15, 1850 

Rebecca A. Parrott 

L. C. Peek 

JERNIGAN, Hardy E. 

December 2, 1862 

Margaret A. Alexander 

Hart C. Peek, M. G. 

JERNIGAN, John E. 

December 9, 1830 

Margaret Rankin 

Francis Cummins 

JERNIGAN, John R. 

February 2, 1868 

Sideria D. Mann 

C. A. Mitchell, M. G. 

JERNIGAN, Petolemy 

January 8, 1822 

Sarah Jarrell 

James Woodberry 

JERNIGAN, Seaborn J. 

March 13, 1838 

Evelina B. Williams 

JETER, Samuel 

October 1, 1822 

Winney Cone 

Anderson Ray, M. G. 

JETER, William P. 

November 25, 1872 

Lou Anna McCarty 

W. A. Overton 

JETT, Francis 

July 26, 1818 

Elizabeth Lee 

C. Para, M. G. 

JENELL, James, Jr. 

December 1, 1859 

Eliza C. Colclough 

John G. Holtzclaw 

JONES, Andrew J. 

January 15, 1866 

Ellen A. Johnson 

JONES, B. F. 

January 15, 1874 

M. E. O’Neal 

JONES, Charles P. 

December 17, 1875 

Mary V. Overton 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

JONES, Dickinson 

October 28, 1829 

Martha Harris 

Francis Cummins 


560 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


JONES, Hezekiah 

January 10, 1837 

Hulda Simmons 

Ephraim Bruce 

JONES, Hezekiah 

June 14, 1868 

Nancy L. Norris 

W. M. Chapman 

JONES, Isaac 

January 22, 1825 

Temperance Akins 

JONES, James A. 

January 5, 1875 

Mary A. Price 

L. D. Caldwell 

JONES, James 

January 6, 1802 

Elvey Rowland 

JONES, James 

September 14, 1810 

Sally Harper 

H. Davenport 

JONES, James J. 

October 28, 1847 

Louisa. M. Hightower 

John C. Lucas 

JONES, John 

October 7, 1847 

Emily W. Sims 

JONES, John 

May 8, 1857 

Mrs. Martha Bruce 

A. L. Willis 

JONES, John P. 

September 12, 1849 

Sarah A. Veazey 

Wm. A. Corry 

JONES, Joseph 

December 18, 1796 

Sarah Heard 

JONES, Joseph 

January 29, 1824 

Penelope S. Pullen 

JONES, Joseph A. 

May 20, 1843 

Lucy M. Manley 

James T. Findley 

JONES, L. N. 

December 18, 1853 

Adalade Jackson 

I. A. Williams 

JONES, Nathan 

June 21, 1818 

Sarah Jett 

Lovick Pierce 

JONES, Nicholas M. 

December 8, 1847 

Emeline Veazey 

J. J. Loudermilk 

JONES, Nicholas M. 

October 26, 1851 

Martha Jackson 

Hart C. Peek, M. G. 

JONES, Robert 

October 6, 1826 

Harriet Macon 

Lovick Pierce 

JONES, Robert 

February 22, 1827 

Sarah Conyers 

James Culberson 

JONES, Robert S. 

January 15, 1841 

Julia Amanda Peek 

James Jones 

JONES, Robert W. 

March 25, 1841 

Pharabee Cunningham 

Reuben Armor 

JONES, Russell 

November 25, 1801 

Mary Tuggles 

JONES, Sanders 

February 2, 1875 

Virginia Stewart 

JONES, Sterling W. 

April 29, 1847 

Martha Swinney 

Hinton Crawford 

JONES, Thomas 

January 17, 1828 

Emily West 

Jonathon Davis 

JONES, Thomas 

June 8, 1831 

Matilda Maria Caldwell 

Peter C. Johnson 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


561 


JONES, Thomas D. 

Mary D. Harper 
JONES, Wiley 
Sarah Ball 
JONES, William 
Emelia Paterson 
JONES, William 
Rebecca Baldwin 
JONES, W. T. 

Sallie Wilson 
JONES, Zachariah 
Sarah R. Morris 
JOHNSON, Allen 
Nelly Finley 
JOHNSON, Allen 
Elizabeth Eidson 
JOHNSON, Amos 

Priscilla Marchman 
JOHNSON, Amos 
Catherine Moon 
JOHNSON, Bernard 
Sally Taylor 
JOHNSON, Frederick 
Patience Knowles 
JOHNSON, George W. 

Sarah M. V. Bickers 
JOHNSON, Gilbert 
Susan Smallwood 
JOHNSON, James T. 

Corcyra E. Matthews 
JOHNSON, James 
Liza Harrison 
JOHNSON, James W. 

Mary Anne Franklin 
JOHNSON, James W. 

Sarah J. Rankin 
JOHNSON, Jesse 
Nancy Johnson 
JOHNSON, Jesse 
Lucy Barnett 
JOHNSON, John 
Anne Butt 
JOHNSON, John 
Prudence Farley 
JOHNSON, John 
Nancy Williams 
JOHNSON, John 
Joice Fears 
JOHNSON, John 
Martha Smith 
JOHNSON, John 

Cornelia J. Ledbetter 


June 12, 1808 
I. Porter 
April 15, 1821 
Thomas Slaughter 
January 5, 1808 
A. Hays 
July 19, 1832 
A. Perkins 
November 13, 1872 

November 12, 1831 
J. P. Leveritt 
June 12, 1820 

July 2, 1843 
James P. Findley 
November 9, 1843 
Ephraim Bruce 
November 6, 1860 

December 1, 1814 
Francis Cummins 
November 9, 1809 
William Johnson 
July 21, 1859 
L. B. Jackson 
June 29, 1850 
I. A. Williams 
August 9, 1838 
Francis Bowman 
December 13, 1817 
Lovick Pierce 
October 4, 1864 
G. G. Norman, M. G. 
June 17, 1875 
Henry Newton 
February 20, 1816 
Francis Cummins 
November 14, 1817 

January 25, 1802 

September 4, 1804 

November 26. 1815 
Alex Johnson 
May 24, 1823 

December 18, 1845 
William Bryan 
November 25, 1858 
George C. Clarke 


562 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


JOHNSON, John 

Corrinne C. Moore 
JOHNSON, John R. 

Mary Ann Bristoe 
JOHNSON, John S. 

Coroline E. Hogg 
JOHNSON, Kinchen 
Matilda McGiboney 
JOHNSON, Laban Scott 
Susannah Walker 
JOHNSON, Leonidas B. 

Mary A. Raden 
JOHNSON, Littleberry 
Mary Robinson 
JOHNSON, O. B. 

Martha E. McLaurin 
JOHNSON, Peter 
Clarissa Bedell 
JOHNSON, Peter G. 

Susan Bedell 
JOHNSON, Robert 
Nancy Dolvin 
JOHNSON, Robert G. 

Eleanor Johnson 
JOHNSON, Samuel 
Patsy Hightower 
JOHNSON, Silvester A. 

Louisa Underwood 
JOHNSON, Terry 
Rebeccah Fleming 
JOHNSON, Thomas 
Tersa Greene 
JOHNSON, Thomas 
Nancy Tippett 
JOHNSON, William 
Martha Ann Hall 
JOHNSON, William B. 

Mary P. Brown R. 

JOHNS 9 N, William Daniel 
Manissa R. Channell 
JOHNSON, William H. 

Martha English 
JOHNSON, W. G. 

Mary Statham 
JOHNSON, W. T. 

Mattie J. Fillingim 
JOHNSTON, George 
Tibitha Johnson 
JOINER, Henry 
Elizabeth Taylor 

JORDAN, Edward 
Nancy Moore 


January 18, 1866 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
January 25, 1836 
Abraham Jenkins 
January 3, 1854 
William English 
December 28, 1856 
Wm. W. Moore 
October 7, 1830 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 22 , 1857 
T. D. Martin 
July 27, 1819 
Robert Booth 
March 31, 1869 
J. J. Brantley 
May 18, 1820 
Thomas Johnson 
May 18, 1835 
Thos. W. Grimes 
March 4, 1800 

November 23, 1838 
Thos. W. Grimes 
September 11 , 1804 

December 10, 1874 
H. C. Peek 
December 1, 1838 
C. D. Kennebrew 
June 21, 1818 
Thomas Johnson 
December 25, 1825 
E. Tally, J. P. 
October 1, 1846 

V. R. Thornton 
April 20, 1864 

A. Houston, M. G. 
January 13, 1870 

December 22 , 1859 
R. A. Houston 
April 26, 1844 
Francis Cummins 
February 28, 1871 
H. C. Peek, M. G. 
July 13, 1808 
Thomas Crawford 
July 20, 1828 
George Hall 

March 5, 1807 

W. McGiboney 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


563 


JORDAN, Zachariah 
Betsey Reed 
JOURDAN, Elijah 
Cynthia King 
JUNE, John Houghton 
Mary McDowell 
KEARNEY, Richard B. 

Elizabeth Buchanan 
KEATON, James K. P. 

Dora Copeland 
KELLER, David C. 

Mary E. Carlton 
KELLEY, James 
Polly Wyatt 
KELLEY, Reuben B. 

Beilina Linch 
KELLY, Charles 
Betsy Wiley 
KELLY, Hugh P. 

Margaret S. Young 
KELLY, James M. 

Holly Ann Sayers 
KENDALL, Thomas K. 

Mary Mapp 
KENDALL, Thomas 
Asenith W. Mapp 
KENDRICK, Robert 
Elizabeth Park 
KINNEBREW, C. D. 

Nancy J. Wilson 
KINNEBREW, Marcus B. 

Julia M, Edmondson 
KENNEDY, James 
Sarah Eidson 
KENNEDY, John 
Agnes Sanders 
KENNEDY, John 
Sally Price 

KENNEDY, John E. 

Mary Ann McCarty 
KENNEY, James 

Vernecey Baughcum 
KENNEY, Jesse 
Polly Smith 
KENNEY, Joshia 

Catherine Langston 
KENNEY, Seaborn 
Jane H. Clifton 
KEOUGH. William L. 

Josephine Echols 
KICKER, William G. 
Elizabeth S. Lee 


July 7, 1819 
Wm. McGiboney 
April 13, 1814 
Isaac Moore 
November 23, 1824 

March 29, 1827 
James Blassingame 
September 12, 1867 
H. H. Tucker, M. G. 

February 22, 1855 
J. P. Duncan, M. G. 
January 20, 1808 
James Holt 
December 20, 1840 
Matthew Oliver 
October 17, 1810 
James Holt 
April 18, 1848 
W. H. Cone 
November 10, 1836 
A. Hutcheson 
July 15, 1841 
John I. Howell 
February 20, 1843 
John Howell 
March 30, 1823 

January 22, 1849 

May 9, 1862 
John R. Young, M. G. 
March 5, 1846 
T. D. Martin 
April 28, 1804 

July 6, 1808 
William Browning 
February 21, 1869 
H. H. Tucker 
April 1, 1866 
Wm. Chapman, M. G. 
September 17, 1816 
Robert Rea 
November 25, 1789 

April 26, 1837 
Lemuel T. Crossley 
April 26, 1870 
Thomas F. Pierce, M. G. 
December 12, 1841 
William C. Veasey 


564 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


KICKLIGHTER, Spencer C. 

January 30, 1875 

Mary M. Jean 

H. C. Peek 

KILGOAR, William 

December 19, 1791 

A. Higginbotham 

KILPATRICK, James H. 

May 9, 1S56 

Cornelia Hall 

H. C. Peek 

KIMBALL, David 

June 23, 1827 

Susannah Anderson 

Miller Bledsoe 

KIMBRp, Isaac 

August 3, 1856 

Bessie Anne Hall 

L. R. L. Jennings 

KIMBROUGH, Alexander 

December 8, 1870 

Sarah A. Smith 

KIMBROUGH, Asbury 

December 13, 1838 

Eliza Rowland 

James W. Godkin 

KIMBROUGH, Augustus L. 

December 10, 1860 

Mary A. E. Champion 

Jas. H. Kilpatrick 

KIMBROUGH, Bradley 

February 9, 1820 

Martha Wingfield 

KIMBROUGH, Bradley 

June 22, 1830 

Lucinda Clark 

William Bryan 

KIMBROUGH, Jesse 

August 24, 1848 

Sarah E. Credille 

W. T. Gaston 

KIMBROUGH, John 

December 12. 1816 

Esther Winslett 

Gilly Moore 

KIMBROUGH, John P. 

January 7, 1875 

Mary A. Copelan 

W. H. Blythe, M. G. 

KIMBROUGH, Locket M. 

April 15, 1862 

Mary E. Credille 

KIMBROUGH, Stephen T. 

August 31, 1837 

Agathy N. Peek 

L. O. Peek, M. G. 

KIMBROUGH, Thomas 

Tune 27. 1806 

Sally Stallings 

KIMBROUGH, William 

April 28. 1830 

Mary Rowland 

KIMBROUGH, William A. 

July 4, 1875 

Emma M. Simpkins 

J. Knowles 

KIMBROUGH, William G. 

August 8, 1848 

Sarah H. Credille 

W. T. Gaston 

KING, Charles M. 

October 7. 1874 

Josephine Gray 

KING, Drury 

July 2, 1823 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Thomas Johnson 

KING, Drury 

April 11. 1830 

Martha Taylor 

S. M. Michael 

KING, Edwin D. 

May 10, 1814 

Nancy Hunter 

Jack Lampkin 

KING, Elisha 

August 12, 1832 

Margaret Champion 

J. P. Leveritt 

KING, Ezekiel 

December 8, 1842 

Lorena McGee 

James McKenzie 

KING, Henry 

January 29, 1846 

Caroline Greenwood 

J. O. Andrew 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


565 


KING, Hugh Moore 
Virginia C. Todd 
KING, James 

Fanny Perkins 
KING, James 

Elizabeth Moore 
KING, James R. 

Susan F. Wright 
KING, James William 
Nancy Jane Swindall 
KING, James W. 

Frances B. Slaughter 
KING, Jesse 

Sarah L. Rankin 
KING, John, Jr. 

Patsy Lacey 
KING, John 

Irene P. Moore 
KING, Joseph 

Elizabeth Cone 
KING, Joseph 
Sarah Ballard 
KING, Ulysses B. 

Celest C. Swinney 
KING, William 
Elizabeth Davis 
KING, Dr. William 
Margaret Barnett 
KING, William C. 

Martha Wright 
KINMAN, John 
Elizabeth Lewis 
KINMORE, Robert 

Eliza Catherine Tribble 
KINNEY, James 

Mary Ann Clifton 
KINNEY, James 

Jerniah J. Compton 
KINNEY, William R. 

Martha A. E. Ruark 
KINNION, James 
Sally Williams 
KIRK, John 

Barsheba Tyler 
KLOTZ, John 
Maria Clark 
KNIGHT, Coffield 
Edey Murphey 
KNIGHT, Joel 

Elizabeth Pollard 
KNIGHT, Robert B. 

Kitty Bailey 


November 20, 1852 

June 6, 1798 

September 6, 1825 
Francis Cummins 
November 5, 1867 
Thos. F. Pierce 
October 4, 1843 
R. F. Griffin 
September 11, 1843 

February 18, 1837 
Thomas Stocks 
February 16, 1796 

February 20, 1866 
J. W. Talley, M. G. 
March 5, 1816 
William Cone 
January 4, 1831 
A. Perkins 
May 11, 1857 

May 6, 1822 
John Harris 
May 1, 1834 
William Cone 
July 23, 1833 
James Moore 
August 22, 1804 

February 29, 1844 
I. M. Wilson 
December 29, 1846 

January 9, 1849 
W. T. Gaston 
December 5, 1865 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
January 15, 1805 

August 14, 1820 
L. Bethune 


June 23, 1802 

November 21, 1815 
Edwin D. King 
July 21, 1802 


566 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


KNOWLES, Brittain 
Rebeccah Ransom 
KNOWLES, Edmond 
Christian Thomas 
KNOWLES, Isaac 
Mary H. Owen 
KNOWLES, James, Jr. 

Amy Read 
KNOWLES, James 
Anna Thomas 
KNOWLES, James 
Lucy Thomas 
KNOWLES, John 
Martha Grubbs 
KNOWLES, Pretty 
Patsy Greer 

KNOWLES, Richard P. 

Dell Martin 
KNOWLES, Thomas 
Matilda McGiboney 
KNOWLES, Thomas B. 

Adaline Wheatt 
KOCH, Henry I. 

Lucy Borsch 
LAFFORD, Seaborn 
Julia Heard 
LAMBKIN, William 
Eleanor Fambrough 
LANCASTER, Samuel 
Rebecca Bowden 
LANDRUM, Alsey L. 

Margaret Arthur 
LANDRUM, James N. 

Sarah M. Underwood 
LANDFORD, James M. 

Caroline B. Hobbs 
LANIER, Manson E. 

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick 
LANFORD, Daniel, Jr. 
Betsy Tolly 

LANKFORD, James C. 

Mary A. Wilson 
LANKFORD, Robert 
Elizabeth C. Burton 
LANFORD, Robert C. 

Elizabeth Bennett 
LANKFORD, Willis J. 

Mildred A. S. Black 
LANSDALE, William S. 
Lizzie Zimmerman 

LASLEY, David 

Patience Winfield 


August 12, 1826 

February 24, 1820 
Wm. McGiboney 
March 25, 1824 

January 3, 1806 
W. M. Johnson 
April 25, 1821 

February 9, 1825 
Thomas Slaughter 
October 2, 1855 
B. H. Thompson 
August 3, 1802 

May 13, 1806 

November 11, 1819 
William Cone 
November 4. 1833 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 14, 1846 
J. M. Davison 
January 6, 1818 
E. Torrence 
July 4, 1841 

I. M. Wilson 
September 17, 1822 

Whitman Hill 
August 29, 1833 
John W. Cox 
December 5, 1840 
E. S. Hunter 
December 1, 1844 
Jeremiah Lindsey 
December 31, 1838 

April 25, 1833 
Alvin Perkins 
January 5, 1868 
Lucius C. Broome 
January 4, 1842 
P. W. Farabee 
March 4, 1860 
Thomas B. Cooper 
August 28, 1856 
John G. Holtzclaw 
October 23, 1855 
J. P. Duncan, M. G. 

April 24, 1832 

J. P. Leveritt 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


587 


LASSETER, Brown 
Anne Stewart 
LASSETER, Elisha 
Nancy Baker 
LASSETER, Jesse 
Deppe McClendon 
LASSETER, John 
Nancey Griffen 
LAURENCE, E. C. 

C. A. Hubbard 
LAURENCE, Hartwell 
Elizabeth Wingfield 
LAURENCE, Hartwell 
Sarah Rowland 
LAURENCE, John 
Harriett Ward 
LAURENCE, Orson 
Arabella Allen 
LAWRENCE, Enoch C. 

Mary H. Daniel 
LAWRENCE, James 
Ginney Lawson 
LAWRENCE, James 
Mary Simonton 
LAWRENCE, Thomas 
Polly Moreland 
LAWS, Bennett 
Sarah Thornton 
LAWS. Isarn 

Rhody Chewing 
LAWSON, John T. 

Matilda Broach 
LAWSON, Sheltin 
Polly Bird 
LAYERS, William 
Rachael Ward 
LEACH, John B. 

Caroline Nash 
LEACH, John W. 

Bertha Lynch 
LEDBETTER. James 
Rebecca Furge 
LEDBETTER, James S. 

Irena C. Coffield 
LEDBETTER, Littleberry 
Sarah Ann Kinney 
LEDBETTER. Nalden S. 

Patience Smith 
LEDBETTER, William T. 

Sallie Callahan 
LEE, Charles 

Elizabeth Broughton 


January 1, 1802 

January 1, 1802 

January 28, 1806 

December 10, 1804 

January 18, 1844 
B. M. Sanders 
August 28, 1821 
Wm. Tally 
November 10, 1830 
W. M. Bryan 
February 27, 1823 
W. H. Sledge 
February 2, 1823 
A. Hutchinson 
January 30, 1837 
Vincent R. Thornton 
May 2, 1795 

March 29. 1810 
Wm. McGiboney 
October 15, 1796 

January 20, 1836 
John T. Holtzclaw 
July 21, 1806 
A. Hays 
January 2, 1849 
E. S. Hunter 
December 11, 1818 
Philemon Ogletree 
February 22, 1816 
Gilly Moore 
March 14, 1858 
James M. Kelly 
May 22. 1873 
W. H. Blythe 
January 11, 1849 
W. T. Gaston 
October 5, 1875 
W. H. Blythe 
August 26, 1842 
Reuben Armor 
January 28, 1841 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 9, 1875 
Joel F. Thornton 
October 21, 1828 
James Park 


568 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


LEE, Elijah 

December 13, 1821 

Malinda Phillips 

Jo Fitzpatrick 

LEE, James 

August 31, 1814 

Elizabeth Phillips 

Lemuel Greene 

LEE, Nathan 

December 20, 1824 

Olivia Heard 

LEE, William 

December 31, 1817 

Sarah West 

Walter Lewis 

LEFTWICH, John 

February 20, 1822 

Mary Brocker 

Hermon Mercer 

LEONARD, Coleman 

September 1, 1837 

Eliza Johnson Ledbetter 

LEONARD, Irbane 

February 2, 1815 

Rebekah Collier 

Thomas Stocks 

LEONARD, Thomas 

November 30, 1836 

Martha Ann Harris Copelan 

LEONARD, William 

August 13, 182 u 

Penelope Massingille 

William Brya> 

LeREBOUR, B. A. 

November 20, 185/ 

E. E. Heard 

J. W. Yarbrough 

LESLIE, Julius W. 

November 25, 185J 1 

Mary F. Ashley 

W. G. Johnson 

LESTER, Benjamin 

April 22, 180) 

Betsy Hill 

LESTER, Josiah 

August 30, 1818 

Leleta Johnson 

Isom Goss 

LETBETTER, Washington 

June 21, 1801 

Lucy Bostwick 

LEVERETT, Francis W. 

May 28, 1836 

Susan Cartwright 

Thomas Stocks 

LEVERETT, George 

December 8, 1831 

Delila Cook 

Ephraim Bruce 

LEVERETT, Joel 

November 18, 1827 

Mary Bishop 

John Harris 

LEVERETT, William 

May 27, 1837 

Nancy Woodham 

Robert F. Griffin 

LEVERITT, L. D. 

Mav 23. 1870 

Hattie Pennington 

LEWIS, Cyphas 

November 14, 1834 

Sarah Ellis 

James Moore 

LEWIS, Cephas 

January 30, 1843 

Emily Chambers 

James Moore 

LEWIS, Curtis 

March 12, 1886 

Jane Collier 

N. H. Harris, M. G. 

LEWIS, Fields' 

September 6, 1796 

Hannah Hall 

LEWIS, Frisman 

February 26, 1831 

Aseneth Connell 

J. P. Leverett 

LEWIS, Gabriel 

February 7, 1828 

Mary Hightower 

R. White 

LEWIS, George 

March 6. 1820 

Charlotte Baugh 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


569 


LEWIS, Henry 
Nancy Edwards 
LEWIS, Ira 

Lourina Cook 
LEWIS, John 
Jenny Moore 
LEWIS, Miles W., Jr. 

Amorette C. Champion 
LEWIS, Richard 

Susannah Hightower 
LEWIS, Theophilus 
Rebecca Ship 
LEWIS, Thomas S. 

Leah Williams 
LEWIS, Thomas W. S. 

Margaret Sullivan 
LEWIS, Walker 
Polly Graham 
LEWIS, William 
Mary Woods 
LEWIS, William 

Temperance Lewis 
LEWIS, William 
Sarah Cartwright 
LEWIS, William 
Margaret Beasley 
LEWIS, William, Jr. 

Mary T. Moody 
LEWIS, William W. 

Priscilla Marchman 
LIGON, John 
Sarah Barker 
LIGON, Thomas 
Betsy C. Daniel 
LILY, John E. 

Malinda Bryan 
LINCH, Elihu 
Nancy Kinney 
LINCH, James C. 

Martha A. F. Bryan 
LINCH, William 
Lucienda Bryan 
LINDSEY, Clabourn 
Nancy Therman 
LINDSEY, Jeremiah 
Julian Edmondson 
LINDSEY, John 

Nancy Houghton 
LINDSEY, William 
Mary Whitaker 

LINDSEY, William T. 

Mrs. Martha Beans 


January 1, 1807 
J. Holt 
January 3, 1820 

August 17, 1819 
John Turner 
October 20, 1873 
Albert Gray, M. G. 
February 23, 1802 

May 31, 1827 
John Harris 
November 9, 1852 
Benjamin Merritt 
December, 1838 
James Moore 
June 1, 1798 

December 1, 1818 

July 6, 1820 
R. White 
June 21. 1827 
Nat. Harris 
January 4, 1861 

October 27, 1853 
William T. Doster 
April 4, 1856 

February 29, 1816 
George Gwen 
May 30, 1805 
A. Gresham 
January 22, 1841 
Reuben B. Arnold 
September 25, 1842 
Reuben Armor 
January 16, 1868 
C. R. Hutcheson 
December 27, 1869 

January 8, 1812 
Lemuel Greene 
May 18, 1837 
W. R. N. Mosely, M. G. 
November 21, 1817 
Lovick Pierce 
August 4, 1840 
Jas. M. Davidson 

October 13, 1870 
W. A. Overton 


570 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


LINTON, Alexander 
Jean Daniel 
LINTON, Samuel D. 

Mary Cunningham 
LINTON, William 

Martha Inorana Grimes 
LISTER, Edwin 
Mehaney Martin 
LITTLE, Anderson 
Sarah Ann Gwill 
LITTLE, Charles E. 

Winnie F. Copelan 
LITTLE, James F. 

Martha J. Seals 
LITTLE, John W. 

Mary Mason 
LITTLE, Walter G. 

Mary _E. Gresham 
LITTLE, William 
Mary A. Callahan 
LIVINGSTONE, Aaron 
Respy Ship 
LOCKE, Josiah 
Sarah Johnson 
LOFTON, Van 
Rebekah Walls 
LOVE, David 

Elizabeth King 
LOVE, Henry Chappel 
Rebecca S. Houghton 
LOVETT, Robert W. 

Marietta A. Smith 
LOWREY, Benjamin 
Mary Hogg 
LOYD, Alfred 
Jenina Connell 
LOYD, James T. 

Lorena H. Brook 
LUCAS, John 

Elizabeth Kimbrough 
LUCKIE, William F. 

Frances Delaney Sayers 
LUDEWIG, Leimen Kohl 
Nancy Susan Kennedy 
LUKE, David 

Elizabeth Scoggins 
LUMPKIN, Edmund 
Lucy Dillard 
LUMPKIN, James 
Mary E. Porter 

Elizabeth Bryan 
LUMPKIN, Leroy 


November 21, 1811 
Jesse Mercer 
September 21, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
August 5, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
February 28, 1826 

November 22, 1846 
P. H. Mell 
February 22, 1870 
J. M. Louney, M. G. 
September 5, 1860 
H. H. Tucker 
December 5, 1875 
W. T. Foster 
December 17, 1874 
Henry Newton 
August 15, 1867 
Philip Robinson 
March 8, 1821 
Wm. McGiboney 
September 21. 1841 
Wooten O’Neal 
January 27, 1795 

April 12, 1810 
Wm. McGiboney 
March 3, 1836 
J. W. F. Pierce 
October 24, 1865 
Albert Gray, M. G. 
April 20, 1790 

July 3, 1818 

August 17, 1862 
W. R. Wilson 
December 11, 1845 
Francis Colly 
April 19, 1853 
J. W. Yarbrough 
November 11, 1853 
T. D. Martin 
August 28, 1837 

May 24, 1823 

October 24, 1850 
J. W. Godkin 

James Findley 
January 16, 1848 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


571 


LUMPKIN, William 
Rebekah Moon 
LUMPKIN, William 
Elizabeth Bowden 
LUNDY, Alexander S. 

Matilda M. Lee 
LUNDY, Archibald P. 

Martha Jane Grimes 
LUNDY, Lewis W. 

Jane K. Turner 
LUNDY, Wm. C. D. 

Martha C. Parrott 
LUPO, James M. 

Elizabeth Bowden 
LYLE, Charles V, 

Frances S. E. Parker 
LYNCH, Edlow 

Elizabeth Thomas 
MABRY, Alfred 
Sarah Curry 
MABRY, Hinchia 
Lynnea Stallings 
MABRY, John 
Elizabeth Irby 
MABRY, Thomas 
Sarah Irby 

MADDOX, Clayborn 
Betsy Weaver 
MADDOX, William James 
Elizabeth W. Tally 
MADDOX, John D. 

Nancy F. Fisher 
MADDOX, Joe C. 

Sarah Morrow^ 
MADDOX, Joseph D. 

Eliza Copelan 
MADDOX, Robert T. 

Margaret S. Mahaffey 
MADDOX, William D. 

Elizabeth E. Davenport 
MAGUE, Laban 

Rebekah Whatley 
MAISEY, William 

Sarah Anna Randle 
MALLORY, Irvin 
Caroline Hubbard 
MALLORY, John 
Nancy Brown 
MALLORY, Joseph 
Elizabeth Mitchell 
MALLORY, Rollin D. 

M. J. Dagg 

. -ij-2 - ! 


March 14, 1816 
L. Bethune 
June 20, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 

February 22, 1870 
J. M. Louney, M. G. 
April 20, 1854 
Hinton Crawford 
July 19, 1832 
Lewis Parker 
March 16, 1869 
Wm. Bryant, M. G. 

September 19, 1848 
J. W. Godkin 
January 25, 1854 
J. S. Key, M. G. 

September 21, 1820 

December 30, 1826 

October 22, 1818 
Thomas Riley 
January 3, 1821 
W. Robertson 
January 8, 1824 
Thomas Johnson 

September 4, 1818 

December 1, 1835 
James Moore 
June 23, 1870 

December 31, 1788 

November 2, 1875 
W. H. Wright 
January 1, 1854 
J. R. Hall 

December 26, 1836 
Thomas W. Grimes 
January 9, 1806 

May 20, 1869 
Thos. F. Pierce 
May 30, 1833 
William Bryan 
October 6, 1813 
Robert Mapp 
January 13, 1818 
E. Torrence 
Tuly 28, 1853 
C. D. Mallory, M. G. 


572 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


MALLORY, Thomas 
Patsy Moore 
MALONE, Drury 
Elizabeth Deloach 
MALONE, John 
Susannah Boring 
MALONE, John 
Harriett Tranum 
MALONE, John 

Margaret Jane Bowles 
MALONE, Thompson 
Laura Williams 
MALONE, Washington 
Frances Deloach 
MALONE. William B. 

Lucy Hicks 
MALONE, Young 
Mary Price 
MANLEY, William 
M. F. Garner 
MANN, David 
Polly Nelson 
MANN, Jesse 
Annie Nelson 
MANN, Joseph B. 

Saphrone Channell 
MANNING. Michael 
Elizabeth Watson 
MAPP, Almarion 
Susan Copelan 
MAPP, Archibald P. 

Rebecca Lundy 
MAPP, E. J. 

Antoinette Snellings 
MAPP R. Hanson 
Hannah Jackson 
MAPP, Henry S. 

Havilah Howell 
MAPP, James H. 

Sarah Jane Moore 
MAPP, James H. 

Austria Howell 
MAPP, James 
Mary Wright 
MAPP. J. F. 

Elizabeth D. Chapman 
MAPP, Littleton 

Lucretia McGiboney 
MAPP, Robert H. 

Fatha Taylor 

MAPP, Robert H. 

Teresa Pittman 


August 21, 1818 

October 18, 1829 
George Hall 
November 10, 1811 

A. Gresham 
October 16, 1834 

John F. Hillyer, M. G. 
November 24, 1836 
John G. Holtzclaw 
November 5, 1839 
B. M. Sanders 
September 6, 1829 
George Hall 
November 21, 1823 

December 17, 1829 
William James 
October 24, 1845 

January 15, 1818 
George Dillard 
January 15, 1818 
George Dillard 
July 10, 1853 

B. Rowland 
December 18, 1824 

September 25, 1847 
Francis Bowman 
December 10, 1874 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
September 30, 1872 

September 27, 1794 

February 8, 1864 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
September 22, 1857 
William W. Moore 
November 22, 1859 
James H. Kilpatrick 
November 25, 1800 
John W. Harris 
December 22, 1870 
J. R. Parker 
July 23, 1818 
John Harris 
November 12. 1857 
W. W. Moore 

June 5, 1859 
Carlos W. Stephens 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


573 


MAPP, William 

Marietta Jernigan 
MAPP, William B. 

Mattie J. Mathews 
MAPP, William J. 

Patience C. Alexander 
MARABLE, Augustus 
Mary W. Hester 
MARABLE, Champion 
Julia A. Wagnon 
MARABLE, John 
Elizabeth Shelton 
MARABLE, John 
Fanny Lawson 
MARCHMAN, Cicero S. 

Margaret Watson 
MARCHMAN, James 
Emily Bruce 
MARCHMAN, John M. 

Virginia Barnhart 
MARCHMAN, Levi 

Adaline Montgomery 
MARCHMAN, Nathan 
Sarah Hansom 
MARCHMAN, Risdon 
Martha Johnson 
MARK, Samuel 

Susannah Brewer 
MARKWALTER, Martin 
Mary Ann E. Winter 
MARTIN, Archabald 
Nancy Houghton 
MARTIN, Baily G. 

Eliza Jane Boon 
MARTIN, Elijah 
Jane McDoal 
MARTIN, Francis 

Bethish McClendon 
MARTIN, John 

Amanda E. McCarty 
MARTIN, Joseph John 
Polly Jenkins 
MARTIN, Robert 
Betsy Jones 
MARTIN, Robert 
Edna Sanford 
MARTIN, Thomas D. 

Sarah A. M. Northern 
MARTIN, William 
Jane Copeland 
MARTIN, 'William M. 
Julia E. Nickelson 


October 20, 1846 
Wm. I. Parks 
November 27, 1875 
W. H. Blythe 
December 8, 1859 
James H. Kilpatrick 
June 17, 1847 
Hinton Crawford 
August 19, 1866 
L. D. Carlton 
November 24, 1803 

December 13, 1804 

September 18, 1842 
Thomas Stocks 
December 26, 1843 
Francis S. Coley 
August 23, 1857 
James J. Laurence 
January 26, 1831 
Ephraim Bruce 
December 10, 1835 
Ephraim Bruce 
March 5, 1848 
James Moore 
May 31, 1805 

March 10, 1864 
J. W. Godkin 
December 17, 1803 

January 19, 1864 
J. R. Parker 
November 18, 1819 
John Harris 
December 29, 1807 
J. Mapp 
March 27, 1875 
W. A. Overton 
January 3, 1800 

April 6, 1802 

May 10, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
December 21, 1843 
P. H. Mell 
November 27, 1828 

July 2, 1835 
G. A, Chappell, M. G. 


574 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


MARTIN, Zadah 
Peggy Robertson 
MARTINDALE, Westley 
Elizabeth Southerland 
MASON, Charles B. 

Sarah M. Carson 
MASON, Edwin 
Amanda Grimes 
MASON, Wiley 

Martha Cunningham 
MASSEY, James 
Nancy Miller 
MASSEY, John W. 

Mattie J. Harris 
MASSINGALE, John 
Polly Moore 
MASSINGALE, Jordan 
Mary Prince 
MASSINGALE, Nathan 
Cynthia Jarrel 
MASTERS, James 
Martha O’Neal 
MATHEWS, Charles L. 
Lucy Early 

MATHEWS, Charles L. 

Emeline T. Strain 
MATTHEWS, James T. 

Martha Ann Kimbrough 
MAULL, James 
Rebecca Alford 
MAXEY, Barnabus A. 

Sarah F. Powell 
MAXEY, Booze 
Sarah Landman 
MAXEY, Jeremiah 
Jane Finley 
MAXEY, George W. 

Virginia E. Burgess 
MAXEY, Joseph W. 

Mary Peek 
MAXEY, William 

DeGraffenreid 

MAY, Issac 

Sara Shelton 
MAY, John 

Emily Jackson 
MAY, Major W. 

Rebecca Hunt 
MAY, Thomas 
Mary McLane 
MAYS, William 

Elizabeth Gentry 


November 9, 1802 

December 1, 1838 
Nathan Hobbs 
November 6, 1867 
Philip B. Robinson 
November 1, 1821 
Lovick Pierce 
October 21, 1824 

August 9, 1818 

December 23, 1875 
R. L. Burgess 
May 30, 1826 

July 8, 1830 
William Bryan 
December 27, 1821 
A. Hutchinson 
September 4, 1851 
Joseph W. Drennan 
Jauuary 31, 1807 

September 15, 1831 
Lovick Pierce 
December 3, 1842 
R. F. Griffen 
June 18, 1829 

December 4, 1867 
M. M. Landrum, M. G. 
December 21, 1823 
J. Ragan 
August 3, 1830 

December 13, 1866 
E. A. Burgess 
December 15, 1825 

June 9, 1815 
A. S. Johnson 
June 15, 1820 
Thomas Johnson 
December 31, 1850 
Hart C. Peek 
December 30, 1828 
James Park 
October 1, 1828 
Robert Newsom 
May 1, 1836 
Nathan Hobbs 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


575 


MAYNE, James P. 

April 24, 1866 

Emma B. Stovall 

John Calvin Johnson 

McALPIN Andrew 

December 13, 1827 

Nancy Hubbard 

Alexander McAlpin 

McGAIN, Robert Patrick 

May 29, 1835 

Nancy Dickson 

McCALL, James P. 

December 15, 1868 

Cland M. Weaver 

Luther M. Smith 

McCARTHUR, James 

August 10, 1837 

Elizabeth Harriett Mabry 

John Wilson 

McCARTY, Walker 

February 9, 1874 

Rosa Landrum 

McCARTY, William 

July 8, 1860 

Marion L. Jenkins 

Wm. A. Colclough 

McClain, Bennett 

September 9, 1828 

Juriah Freeman 

McCLAIN, Elisha 

August 5, 1852 

Nancy Wyatt 

B. Rowland 

McCLAIN, Elizah 

August 1, 1822 

Rosa Ray 

Abraham Yeats 

McCLAIN, John 

September 19, 1822 

Mary Williams 

Abraham Yeats 

McCLELLAN, James 

January 16, 1825 

Sarah Sturdivant 

McCLENDON, Jeremiah 

December 23, 1795 

Elizabeth Sheffel 

McCLENDON, Marvel 

November 24, 1803 

Phoebe Williams 

McCLUSKEY, Thomas 

June 14, 1820 

Julia Ann Dillard 

Lovick Pierce 

McCOMMON, James N. 

November 3. 1864 

Helen Mary Geer 

John R. Young, M. G. 

McCOWEN, John W. 

September 11, 1817 

Ann Perkins 

Robert Gilbert 

McCOY, Ewell 

Januarv 25, 1821 

Rebecca Boone 

William Cone 

McCOY, John 

February 18, 1823 

Lucy Fitzpatrick 

John Park 

McCRARY, John W. 

August 11, 1853 

Elizabeth Anderson 

J. W. Yarbrough 

McCREA, Wiley B. 

January 5, 1871 

Laura A. McWhorter 

J. C. Calvin 

MCDONALD, E)aniel 

April 11, 1858 

Susan A. Bridges 

T. J. Bowen 

McDONALD, Marion 

February 7, 1851 

Sarah Alfriend 

L. C. Peek 

McGAN, William Henry 

September 1, 1835 

Rachel Copeland 


McGIBONY, William R. 

September 1, 1865 

Lodusca Irby 

J. R. Parker 

Me GRAY, Richard T. 

June 2, 1850 

Mary Ann Warner 

J. W. Drennan 


576 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


McGRUDER, Bryan 

November 23, 1838 

Martha Bryan 

Thos. W. Grimes 

McGuire, a. 

November 10, 1818 

Patsy Aldmon 

McGUIRE, 

April 22, 1795 

Peggy Hays 

McGUIRE, James 

May 9, 1795 

Polly George 

McHARGUE, William T. 

June 29, 1843 

Julia A. F. Hendricks 

James W. Godkin 

McHENRY, James H. 

May 30, 1843 

Sarah G. Poullain 

Francis Bowman 

McINTOSH, David 

December 29, 1795 

Polly Dawson 

McINTOSH, Jesse 

June 19, 1802 

June Cartwright 

McKENZIE, Josephus 

March 15, 1866 

Nancy A. E. Mays 

James Davison 

McICINLEY, C. 

January 12, 1852 

Antionette Wingfield 

Francis Cummins 

McKNIGHT, John 

July 28, 1842 

Susan Drake 

William Manley 

McLAIN, James 

October 9, 1859 

Nancy Ward 

J. M. Kelly 

McLAIN, Samuel 

April 15, 1841 

Adaline Landrum 

Hardy Bridges 

McLaughlin, Owen a. 

December 25, 1851 

Almarine C. Cheney 

Enoch Calloway 

McMAHAN, Noel 

March 21, 1861 

Mary Jane Morgan 

W. R. Wilson 

McMAHAN, William I. 

January 12, 1838 

Henrietta Higgins 

McMICHAEL, Charles 

October 17, 1807 

Polly Carmichael 

James Holt 

McMICHAEL, David 

February 20, 1789 

Sarah Kimbro 

McMICHAEL, Samuel 

January 17, 1808 

Dicey Winelett 

W. M. Johnson 

McMICHAEL. Seaborn 

February 17, 1824 

Elizabeth Riley 

McMillan, eh 

June 25, 1822 

Candis Richards 

William Wingfield 

McMILLAN, Micajah 

May 18, 1828 

Mary Harrison 

A. Ray, M. G. 

McMULLIN, David 

December 19, 1803 

Hannah Pickard 

McMURRAY, James 

February 21, 1821 

Agnes Curtis 

Francis Cummins 

McWHORTER, Beeman C. 

December 18, 1875 

Elizabeth Barnhart 

W. A. Overton 

McWHORTER, Frederick 

December 28, 1841 

Elizabeth A. Johnson 

N. H. Hill 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


577 


McWhorter, John 

N. H. Hall 

McWHORTER. Robert 
Nancy W. Jones 
McWHORTER, Robert 
N. Pope Thurmond 
McWHORTER, Robert L. 

Mary E. Boyd 
McWHORTER, William H. 

Adaline Edmondson 
McWHORTER, William H. 

Mary E. Cheney 
McWHORTER, William P. 

Sarah J. Crawford 
MEADORS, Benjamin 
Nancy Parker 
MEADOWS, William 
Jean Meadows 
MEALER, John W. 

Minnie Brooks 
MEANS, Francis M. 

E. Louisa Crutchfield 
MEDDOWS, Alexander 
Mary A. Morgan 
MEDLIN, Andrew I. 

Mary Sherley 
MEEKS, Albert H. 

Naomi S. Brooks 
MELBORN, Levi T. 

Roxana Bethune 
MELTON, James K. 

Louisa H. Clements 
MELTON, Robert 
Patsy Boon 

MELTON, William Allen 
Nancy Haynes 
MERRITT, Allen 
Mary Sherling 
MERRITT, Benjamin 
Susan M. Heath 
MERRITT, James 
Nancy Williams 
MEREDITH, James 

Harriet A. M. Fleetwood 
MERRITT, Franklin 
Cornelia C. Stewart 
MERRITT, Henry 
Jackann Crawford 
MERRITT, James 
Sarah Sidwell 
MERRITT. John 
Lucy Clements 


December 18, 1855 
T. B. Martin, M. G. 
^Qvember 2, 1°43 
B. M. Sanders 
February 22, 1849 
P. H. Mell 
April 20, 1875 
O. H. Strickland 
October 26, 1837 
Jack Lumpkin, M. G. 
November 14, 1865 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
July 21, 1857 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
December 20, 1805 

June 29, 1815 
Malichi Murden 
January 5, 1871 
W. R. Wilson 
November 22, 1866 
A. Hearns 
February 11, 1875 
C. H. Strickland 
April 13, 1845 
James T. Findley 
September 12, 1872 
James Griffen 
April 15, 1824 

July 13, 1864 
L. B. Jackson 
October 10, 1804 

January 25, 1807 
William Greer 
March 5, 1873 
W. H. Wright 
December 19, 1850 
James Billingslea 
March 18, 1875 
W. H. Wright 
August 13, 1843 
John Robins 
August 31, 1865 
John C. Merritt 
December 7, 1818 

December 12, 1861 
James W. Godkin 
April 30, 1844 
H. H. Laurence 


578 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


MERRITT, John C. 

Louisa F. Crawford 
MERRITT, Lovett 
Sarah Gatlin 
MERRITT, Lovett 
Mary O’Rear 
MERRITT, Stephen 
Susan C. O’Neal 
MERRITT, Thomas 
Patsy Roland 
MERRITT, Thomas 
Caroline A. Heath 
MERRITT, William 
Nancy J. Burk 
MERRITT, William 
Sarah V. Ledbetter 
MERRIWETHER, Francis 
Sarah Watts 

MERRIWETHER, James 
Fanny Bradshaw 
METCALF, Edward 

Ephronia M. Dawson 
MICHAEL, Thomas J. 

Almeda T. Johnson 
MIDDLEBROOKS, Zara B. 

Martha E. Maddox 
MIDDLETON, William 
Nancy Lumpkin 
MILLER, Charley 
Isabella Kennedy 
MILLER, John 
Elizabeth Bird 
MILLER, John A. 

Sarah Jane Smith 
MILLER, Parker C. 

Martha Anne Caldwell 
MILLER, Thomas S. 

Mary Jane Jackson 
MILLIGAN, James 
Elizabeth Cessna 
MILLS, Henry 

Elizabeth Lindsey 
MILNER, Obadiah 
Precilia Meddows 
MINER, Hermon 

Elizabeth Andrews 
MIRNER, William 
Cynthia Young; 
MITCHELL, Cicero A. 

Elmira C. Smith 
MITCHELL, Edward 
Essy Terzeach 


July 15, 1849 
James W. Godkin 
February 8, 1820 
John Harris 
September 25, 1837 
Ephraim Bruce 
February 11, 1868 
L. D. Caldwell 
February 28, 1815 
Robert Rea 
April 26, 1855 
L. C. Peek 
August 22, 1854 
W. A. Florence, M. G. 
October 29, 1865 
William Bryan, M. G. 
November 3, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 
February 27, 1814 

May 22, 1851 
Francis Bowman 
September 22, 1853 
W. A. Partee 
October 14, 1858 
J. M. Stillwell, M. G. 
November 29, 1814 
John Browning 
August 30, 1804 

March 21, 1822 

May 19, 1836 

September 13, 1843 
Wooten O’Neal 
November 18. 1853 
E. L. Whately, M. G. 
August 19, 1788 

January 21, 1849 
Nevill Lumpkin 
January 4, 1806 

September 3, 1802 

May 21, 1816 
Walker Lewis 
May 23, 1858 
O. L. Smith, M. G. 
February 1, 1821 
Lovick Pierce 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


579 


MITCHELL, Isaac 

January 19, 1819 

Parizade Love 

Lovick Pierce 

MITCHELL, John 

December 27, 1868 

Elizabeth Catching 

James W. Godkin 

MITCHELL, Joshua M. 

October 17, 1867 

‘Valeria T. Randle 

Francis S. Colley 

MITCHELL, Reuben S. 

July 9, 1843 

Elizabeth Forrester 

E. S. Hunter 

MITCHELL, Sterling 

August 31, 1800 

Betsy Brewer 

MIZE, Anderson 

April 24, 1810 

Sally Wood 

MIZE, Jo 

September 7, 1804 

Jemima Wyatt 

MONCRIEF, David 

April 22, 1830 

Nancy Price 

Jack Lumpkin 

MONCRIEF, Isaac 

December 30, 1819 

Nancy Keeker 

A. Hutchenson 

MONCRIEF, Marshall 

December 18, 1845 

Elizabeth Bolles 

Samuel Ely 

MONCRIEF, Thomas I. 

August 20, 1833 

Mary Ann Roberson 

Thomas Stocks 

MONCRIEF, William 

September 6, 1849 

Nancy Booles 

J. D. Williams 

MONK, Tearson B. 

December, 1838 

Martha Watts 

Vincent R. Thornton 

MONTFORT, Alexander 

November 25, 1852 

Elizabeth B. Smith 

J. W. Yarbrough 

MONTFORT, John 

March 22, 1810 

Nancy Curry 

C. Maddox 

MONTFORT, John C. 

November 26, 1850 

Elizabeth H. Quill 

J. W. Godkin 

MONTFORT, Oscar L. 

December 16, 1858 

Margaret A. Hillsman 

M. H. Hubbard 

MONFORT, William 

January 3, 1822 

Matilda Jane Patrick 

James Dunn 

MONTGOMERY, James M. 

January 14, 1836 

Margaret Culp 

John G. Holtzclaw 

MONTGOMERY, William 

June 25, 1870 

Chloe Lewis 

MOODY, Elias B. 

September 14, 1845 

Susan Brook 

Samuel Ely 

MOODY, Elias B. 

October 11. 1863 

Sarah E. Durham 

W. R. Wilson 

MOODY, George 

February 21, 1833 

Eliza Velvin 

Wm. H. Price 

MOODY, George W. 

December 28, 1835 

Emeline Moody 

Wm. H. Price 

MOODY, Greene 

August 10, 1816 

Betsy Dove 

Vincent Lanford 

MOODY, Henry 

April 19, 1855 

Frances Patrick 

J. M. Davison 


580 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


MOODY, James A. 

March 13, 1830 

Elizabeth F. Brooks 

John G. Holtzclaw 

MOODY, James A. 

May 10, 1860 

Mae Elizabeth Adkins 

Wm. R. Wilson 

MOODY, James A. 

January 22, 1865 

Sarah Jane Mays 

James Davison 

MOODY, John 

December 23, 1817 

Nancy Velvin 

Hinton Crawford 

MOODY, John C. 

October 8, 1850 

Rebecca Robertson 

James W. Godkin 

MOODY, Lillte B. 

September 28, 1865 

Mrs. Catherine S. Freeman 

James Davison 

MOODY, Waldman 

July 24, 1864 

Georgia Ann Moore 

Alfred L. Willis 

MOON, Causby 

December 22, 1868 

Louisa Melton 

Joseph R. Parker 

MOON, Franklin H. 

January 5, 1869 

Sarah Crawford 

MOON, George W. 

March 25, 1866 

Phoebe J. Johnson 

John O’Neal 

MOON, George W. 

November 20, 1866 

Electrian Wright 

John C. Merritt 

MOON, William L. 

January 2, 1852 

Priscilla Bruce 

D. Hightower 

MOOR, David 

October 20, 1807 

Sally Aubrey 

William Greer 

MOOR, Isaac 

October 5, 1807 

Nancy Wyatt 

J. Mapp 

MOOR, Young 

October 16, 1807 

Rebekah Aubrey 

William Greer 

MOORE, Anderson C. 

May 4, 1848 

Georgia A. Howell 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

MOORE, Asbury Green 

December 23, 1855 

Sarah Jane Caldwell 

H. C. Peek 

MOORE, Bertram 

December 18, 1873 

Mattie Ely 

J. H. Kilpatrick 

MOORE, Curtis 

September 14, 1709 

Agnes Smith 

MOORE, David C. 

December 24, 1857 

Sarah Ann Greer 

James H. Wragg 

MOORE, Free ling H. 

January 7, 1869 

Sarah H. Crawford 

W. R. Foote 

MOORE, George 

June 9, 1822 

Maria Wright 

Stephen Hightower 

MOORE, George 

January 14, 1847 

Jincey Atkinson 

James Rowland 

MOORE, George 

August 24, 1856 

Lucy Wilson 

J. F. Wright 

MOORE, George W. 

November 16, 1872 

Margaret E. Hogg 

John R. Young 

MOORE, Gillis 

December 22. 1798 

Betsy Cooper 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


581 


MOORE, Henry H. 

Mrs. Martha W. Dooly 

MOORE, Hiram 

Elizabeth 1. Turner 

MOORE, Isaac 

Mrs. Bethena Wilson 

MOORE, Isaac D. 

Mary Jane Howell 

MOORE, Isaac J. 

Elizabeth Caldwell 

MOORE, Jackson 

Nancy Stevens 

MOORE, James 

Bethine Jordan 

MOORE, James M. 

Eliza Ann Wilson 

MOORE, Jeremiah 

Martha Gilbert 

MOORE, Jesse I. 

Frances A. Mapp 

MOORE, John 

Elizabeth Hammond 

MOORE, John 

Cordelia Ann Lumpkin 

MOORE, John B. 

Marian B. McHenry 

MOORE, John C. 

Rebecca A. Wagnon 

MOORE, I. D. 

Mary Ely 

MOORE, Joseph 

Matilda Goss 

MOORE, Osborn 

Latha Brake 

MOORE, Oscar D. 

Mattie Newsom 

MOORE, Ransom 

Mary Anne Hudgins 

MOORE, Samuel 

Lucy Ward 

MOORE, Spencer 

Luky Grimes 

MOORE, (or Brown) William 

Mary Wood 

MOORE, William 

Jedidah Perkins 

MOORE, William 

Sydney Connell 

MOORE, William 

Jane Monfort 

MOORE, William 

Frances Rea 

October 10, 1865 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
February 18, 1847 
Ephraim Bruce 
July 2, 1855 
W. W. Moore 
January 15, 1852 
D. Hightower 
June 23, 1848 

July 7, 1821 
Chesley Bristoe 
December 14, 1818 

February 2, 1837 
W. D. Coudrey 
April 6, 1830 
W. B. Barnett 
January 28, 1844 
J. J. Howell 
March 19, 1800 

September 14, 1837 
W. R. M. Moseley 
June 11, 1872 
C. W. Lane 
January 22, 1857 
H. H. Park, M. G. 
November 4, 1869 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
January 18, 1810 
William McGiboney 
December 18, 1873 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
December 22, 1874 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
December 29, 1819 
John My rick 
January 16, 1821 
Spencer Moore 
September 24, 1801 

March 4, 1821 
H. G. Slaughter 
December 5, 1822 
John Harris 
January 25, 1828 
John Harris 
December 12, 1831 

April 25, 1844 
Francis Bowman 


582 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


MOORE, William 

December 9, 1847 

Nancy Atkinson 

J. J. Loudermilk 

MOORE, William B. 

May 20, 1858 

Mary Ann Credille 

W. G. Johnson 

MOORE, William H. 

March 15, 1844 

Margary Veazey 

E. P. Jarrell 

MOORE, J. W. 

April 26, 1871 

E. C. Park 

Geo. W. Yarbrough 

MORAN, Basil 

March 2, 1789 

Nancy Harvey 


MORELAND, James M. 

December 29, 1853 

Elizabeth F. Bridges 

L. E. Culver, M. G. 

MORELAND, James M. 

December 15, 1870 

Pheraby Wagnon 

L. D. Caldwell 

MORGAN, Adrian S. 

December 25, 1857 

Annie M. Spencer 

H. H. Tucker, M. G. 

MORGAN,( Adrain S. 

December 25, 1867 

Amanda E. King 

J. J. Brantley 

MORGAN, Drury Chipsom 

December 8, 1836 

Priscilla Southerland 

Nathan Hobbs 

MORGAN, Enoch C. 

July 30, 1850 

Mary S. Johnson 

P. H. Mell 

MORGAN, Thomas H. 

November 21, 1852 

Elizabeth D. Strozier 

P. H. Mell 

MORGAN, William 

August 19, 1819 

Temperance Coleman 

Lovick Pierce 

MORGAN, William 

April 29, 1830 

Caroline Wittick 

James A. Andrews 

MORGAN, William H. 

May 13, 1830 

Mary Mounger 

Lovick Pierce 

MORREL, Simeon 

December 10, 1818 

Mariah Harris 

Robert Moore 

MORRIS, Andrew Jackson 

December 28, 1854 

Mary Jane Andrews 

Hart C. Peek 

MORRIS, George 

June 3, 1824 

Frances Morris 

Malichi Murden 

MORRIS, Lemon 

October 10, 1816 

Patsy Colclough 

Thomas Legue 

MORRISON, Isaac 

March 23, 1837 

Rebecca Montfort 

James W. Godkin 

MORRISON, William J. 

January 18, 1842 

Elizabeth J. Crew 

James W. Godkin 

MORROW, Hugh E. 

June 26, 1839 

Ellen Mathew 

Francis Bowman 

MOSELEY, Benjamin 

December 14, 1847 

Mary Ann Calloway 

George F. Pierce 

MOSELEY, John A. 

January 8, 1839 

Eliza Ann Johnston 

John W. Wilson 

MOSELEY, Lewis 

October 12, 1809 

Rebekah Jones 

John Turner 

MOSS, Carson F. 

March 9, 1873 

Sarah F. Wheeler 

W. A. Overton 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


583 


MOSS, Henry 
Jane Nance 
MOSS, Peter M. 

Emma Jernigan 
MOTTE, Levi S. 

Sarah V. Chambers 
MULKEY, James 
Betsy Dawson 
MULLINS, Charles 

Georgia Ann Andrews 
MULLINS, John 

Julia Ann Williams 
MULLINS, Julius S. 

Rosey Marcay 
MULLINS, Thomas K. 

Pemelia H. Brockman 
MURDEN, Henning D. 

Cornelia F. Pinkston 
MURDEN, Malicia 
Nancy Asbury 
MURDEN, Redmond 
Sarah A. Mitchell 
MURPHEY, Andrew 
Sydney White 
MURPHEY, John 
Polly Lake 
MURRAH, James 
Ann Swindale 
MURRAY, George 
Eliza Ann Glazier 
NAZERY, Henry 
Polly Springer 
NEAL, Alder 
Sally Cochran 
NEAL, George W. 

Eliza W. Edmondson 
NEAL, Robert 
Alice Burnett 
NEELY, John F. 

Mary Ann Cone 
NELMS, Oliver 
Mary Shorter 
NELMS, Samuel 
Sally Holland 
NELMS, Thomas 
Nancy Gillem 
NELMS, Thomas 
Polly Worrell 
NELMS, Thomas 

Mary E. Huddaday 

NELSON, Abram 
Elizabeth Ellis 


February 26, 1843 
Samuel Ely 
December 12, 1867 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
May 15, 1866 
Ezekiel S. Williams 
June 25, 1807 
Claborn Maddox 
December 16, 1869 
W. A. Overton, M. G. 
September 2, 1836 
B. M. Sanders 
December 17, 1803 

December 9, 1830 
John Chew 
April 12, 1837 
J. G. Gilbert 
January 16, 1806 

March 16, 1864 
H. H. Tucker, M. G. 
December 14, 1829 
John Chew 
December 19, 1811 
Clayborn Maddox 
March 5, 1821 
John Beattie 
July 19, 1846 
T. M. Fambrough 
October 3, 1801 

January 13, 1811 
Hinton Crawford 
July 12, 1850 
P. H. Mell 
December 26, 1872 
B. P. Taylor 
May 30, 1850 
John T. Cox 
December 8, 1819 

December 28, 1815 
George Owens 
February 13, 1808 
H. Gatin 
February 10, 1819 
Robert Moore 
February 22, 1870 

December 25, 1799 


584 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


NELSON, George W. 

September 3, 1833 

Mary N. White 

NELSON, John B. 

October 21, 1818 

Sophia Roberts 

Jesse Mercer 

NELSON, John W. 

December 29, 1874 

Mary Fenn 

L. D. Caldwell 

NELSON, Joseph F. 

January 8, 1845 

Mary M. Parker 

James Moore 

NELSON, Perry 

November 7, 1821 

Martha McGaughey 

NESBIT, Dr. James 

July 30, 1794 

Penelope Cooper 

NEWELL, William 

January 24, 1822 

Priscilla Jones 

Walker Lewis 

NEWSOM, David A. 

February 9, 1869 

Mrs. Maggie W. Carlton 

Philip Robinson 

NEWSOM, Joseph N. 

November 24, 1874 

Addie Lewis 

John W. Swann 

NEWSOM, Robert 

September 29, 1808 

Nancy Asbery 

Peter Joyner 

NEWSOM, William J. 

January 11, 1871 

Elizabeth W. Haley 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

NEWTON, Elijah 

May 14, 1822 

Betsy Collier 

Lovick Pierce 

NEWTON, William 

January 3, 1804 

Betsy Dorough 

NICHOLS, Thomas 

December 29, 1858 

Emmaline Wiggins 

R. B. Kelly 

NICHOLSON, George W. 

May 12, 1859 

Eliza C. Bridges 

Jefferson F. Wright 

NICKELSON, Archibald 

September 27, 1846 

Sally Robinson 

Abner R. Hill 

NICKELSON, George 

July 22, 1823 

Nancy Jackson 

William Greer, M. G. 

NICKELSON, Henry Clay 

June 14, 1866 

Harriet M. Poullain 

George F. Pierce 

NICKELSON, Oscar R. 

November 30, 1865 

Martha C. Maddox 

V. A. Bell, M. G. 

NICKELSON, Samuel S. 

February 5, 1860 

Sarah A. Williams 

John R. Young 

NICKELSON, William 

November 2, 1828 

Susan Williams 

Jack Lumpkin 

NICKELSON, William 

August 24, 1862 

Elizabeth Atkinson 

Wiley G. Johnson 

NICKELSON, William B. 

January 30, 1866 

Louisa C. Mullins 

V. A. Bell, M. G. 

NICKS, Henry 

October 8, 1865 

Emily Bradley 

Jefferson F. Wright 

NORRIS, Jacob 

November 23, 1819 

Liney Wood 

NORRIS, James 

July 23, 1800 

Sally Patrick 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


585 


NORSWORTHY, Frederick 
Mary Alford 

NORTHINGTON, James 
Sally Houghton 
NORTON, Charles C. 

Anite M. Foster 
NORWOOD, James M. 

Mary A. Maddox 
NORWOOD, William 
Mary F. Luckey 
NOWELL, Robert 
Martha Moncrief 
NUNN, C. W. 

Mattie Battle 
NUNN, F. L. 

S. E. Moody 
NUNN, John B. 

Mary A. Moody 
O’CONNOR, John 
Nancy Braswell 
OGLESBY, Thomas 
Mary Alford 

OGLETREE, Samuel T. 

Martha J. Williams 
OGLETREE, Samuel T. 

Margaret A. Underwood 
OGLETREE, William D. 

Sarah C. Underwood 
O’KEEFE, Daniel 
Ann Walsh 
O’KEEFE, D. C. 

Sarah Branch 
O’KELLEY, Patrick 
Nancy Reed 
OLCOTT, John 

Emmelin Moody 
OLIPHANT, Aaron P. 

Emily M, Wright 
OLIVER, Alexander 
Mary Drenun 
OLIVER, Andrew 
Mary Dority 
OLIVER, Charles C. 

Julia Frances Caldwell 
OLIVER, Columbus C. 

Maploa Fournoy Bowden 
OLIVER, John 

Nancy Cartwright 
OLIVER, John G. 

Mary H. Cartwright 
OLIVER, Milus W. 

Maggie Heard 


July 18, 1821 

September 26, 1814 
Evans Myrick 
June 3, 1844 
William Arnold 
July 8, 1835 
James Moore 
January 26, 1836 
James Moore 
December 3, 1839 
B. M. Sanders 
November 23, 1873 
W. A. Overton 
April 22, 1874 
James A. Thornton 
February 28, 1875 
James M. Griffen 
June 28, 1822 

October 7, 1818 
L. Bethune 
December 8, 1866 

July 4, 1867 
Hart C. Peek 
December 18, 1866 
Hart C. Peek 
June 21, 1865 
P. J. Kirby, Cath. Priest 
May 7, 1851 
L. G. Hillyer 
January 6, 1843 
Lemuel Greene 
December 11, 1848 
Thomas Stocks 
October 24. 1843 
Francis S. Cooley 
November 15, 1846 
R. F. Griffen 
October 13, 1819 

September 27, 1857 
Hart C. Peek 
November 28, 1868 

April 3, 1823 
Thomas Johnson 
May 26, 1831 
John N. Harris 
December 3, 1874 
J. M. Loury 


586 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


OLIVER, Thomas A. 

Julia F. Heard 
OLIVER, William 
Jane Cartwright 
OLIVER, William I. 

Cena Bryan 
O’NEAL, Alexander S. 

Malissa Ann Daniel 
O’NEAL, Alfred 
Martha King 
O’NEAL, Augustus 

Georgia A. V. Stewart 
O’NEAL, Daniel H. 

M. Fannie Johnson 
O’NEAL, Edward 
Elizabeth Roberts 
O’NEAL, Hampton 
Charlotte T. Peek 
O’NEAL, Harrison 

Elizabeth Colclough 
O’NEAL, Harrison 
Jane Williams 
O’NEAL, James 

Julia Ann Rhodes 
O’NEAL, John 
Ecsah Caldwell 
O’NEAL, John 

Charlotte Hancock 
O’NEAL, Joshua 

Sarah Jane Davis 
O’NEAL, William H. 

Fanny Irby 
O’NEAL, Williamson 
Rebeccah Holland 
O’NEAL, Wooten 
Mary Stevens 
OREAR, Benjamin 
Elizabeth Cook 
OREAR, Josiah 
Lucinda Lewis 
OREAR, Osburn 
Lucissa Lewis 
OREAR, Robert 
Sally Knight 
ORR, William 
Jane Harris 
OSBORN, William T. 

Florida Wray 
OSTIN, John 

Rachel Anderson 
OVERTON, Gilchrist 
Hannah R. Morris 


November 29, 1855 
Hinton Crawford 
January 5, 1845 
John L. Veazey 
March 20, 1845 
Ephriam Bruce 
November 12, 1872 
Hart C. Peek 
October 17, 1868 

December 12, 1843 
H. F. Bunkley 
December 16, 1874 
Hart C. Peek 
October 2, 1799 

February 19, 1834 
James Moore 
December 17, 1819 
Malichi Murden 
October 9, 1860 
L. D. Caldwell 
July 8, 1849 
James T. Findley 
October 10, 1839 
James Moon 
October 25, 1841 
James Moore 
October 14, 1852 

December 23, 1873 
Hart C. Peek 
December 9, 1823 
Malichi Murden 
January 27, 1820 
Francis Cummins 
May 27, 1819 
William McGiboney 
November 30, 1824 

December 28, 1829 
Dacheus Wright 
November 30, 1807 
William McGiboney 
February 10, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
September 14, 1863 
L. R. L. Jennings 
December 16, 1819 

November 29, 1821 
Charles Baldwin 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


587 


OVERTON, M. C. 

M. A. Caldwell 
OVERTON, Simeon W. 

Emma Jones 
OWEN, Phillman 
Betsy Fluker 
OWEN, John 

Nancy Woods 
OWEN, William 

Elizabeth Ann Crawford 
OWEN, William 
Emily Durham 
OWENS, Charles 
Mary Kirkendoll 
OWENS, Charles W. 

Sarah M. Wiggins 
OWENS, Daniel 
Louisa Hendricks 
OWENS, Daniel 
Caroline Marsh 
OWENS, Jefferson 
Josephine Marsh 
OWENS, Morefield 
Martha Parker 
PACE, Barnabus 
Patsy Harris 
PALMORE, Francis 
Ann Simmons 
PALMORE, James 
Nancy Foster 
PALMORE, Jomes 
Cressa Moore 
PALMORE, James 

Lucy A. V. Devaney 
PALMER, James M. 

Sarah A. M. Jackson 
PALMER, John C. 

Abigail B. Littleton 
PALMER, Landon 
Eliza Coleman 
PALMER, William W. 

Lorena Adkinson 
PANTON, Abner 

Rebekah Barnheardt 
PARHAM, Darling P. 

Eliza Ann Tarpley 
PARK, Columbus M. 

Mary Ann W. Armor 
PARK, Ezekial E. P. 

Frances A. Redd 
PARK, Hugh H. 

Anna S. Mays 


December 19, 1871 

January 20, 1874 
A. A. Fluker 
March 1, 1803 

December 5, 1822 
Henry Slaughter 
October 18, 1825 

December 9, 1852 
John R. Young 
May 26, 1861 
E. S. Williams 
February 2, 1868 
W. M. Chapman, M. G. 
February 10, 1847 
R. F. Griffen 
April 26, 1857 
William Hudson 
April 23, 1854 
B. Rowland 
August 30, 1821 
A. H. Scott 
March 12, 1807 
Thomas Crawford 
September 21, 1840 

July 11, 1816 
William Armor 
November 29, 1846 
Ephraim Bruce 
August 17, 1860 
Jefferson F. Wright 
October 23, 1847 

March 16, 1859 
James W. Godkin 
March 7, 1821 
Lovick Pierce 
February 14, 1833 
J. P. Leveritt 
November 28, 1802 
Thomas Crawford 
January 19, 1842 
Vincent R. Thornton 
August 7, 1838 
Robert F. Griffin 
April 11, 1833 
A. M. Sanders 
January 21, 1874 
W. A. Overton 


588 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


PARK, James B. 

Missouri Billingslea 
PARK, James L. 

Harriet F. Cunningham 
PARK, Richard 

Catherine Musgrove 
PARK, Richard S. 

Nancy T. Walker 
PARK, Thomas 

Eliza Billingslea 
PARK, William J. 

Mrs. Emily A. Carlton 
PARKER, Aaron 
Mary Williams 
PARKER, Asa J. 

Susan M. A. Bates 
PARKER, Austin 
Ester Williams 
PARKER, David 
Lydia Radmore 
PARKER, Edwin 
Rebecca Austin 
PARKER, Emanuel 
Polly Austin 
PARKER, James B. 

Virginia W. Sayers 
PARKER, J. F. 

Sarah Jane Jackson 
PARKER, Lewis 

Martha H. Turner 
PARKER, Robert F. 

Patima Simmons 
PARKER, William 
Eunice Nelson 
PARKS, William M. 

Elizabeth Bradshaw 
PARMENTREE, Jason 
Catherine Heard 
PARROTT, Asberry L. 

Lavinia R. Smith 
PARROTT, Asbury L. 

Fanny Turner 
PARROTT, Benjamin 
Patience Johnson 
PARROTT, Benjamin 
Nancy Williams 
PARROTT, Curtis 
Sarah K. Rowland 
PARROTT, Henry 
Patsy Dolvin 
PARROTT, James 
Amy King 


February 22, 1849 
Hinton Crawford 
August 23, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
October 17, 1804 

July 15, 1841 
Reuben Arnold 
February 12, 1825 

October 6, 1857 
B. H. Overby, M. G. 
February 27, 1801 

December 20, 1849 
W. W. Moore 
July 10, 1828 
Reuben White 
June 30, 1803 

January 11, 1846 
James Moore 
January 30, 1807 
B. Maddox 
April, 1867 

January 18, 1849 
L. B. Jackson 
January 6, 1825 
Thos. H. Slaughter 
July 25, 1833 
J. P. Leveritt 
February 21, 1818 

June 23, 1864 
John F. Zuber 
September 21, 1799 

December 9, 1875 
W. H. Blythe 
October 12, 1869 
W. H. Blythe 
July 28, 1828 
John Wood 
February 14, 1838 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 30, 1833 

February 15, 1812 
William Cone 
February 2, 1840 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


589 


PARROTT, James 
Matilda Harris 
PARROTT, Obadiah 
Elizabeth Horn 
PART EE, Walter A. 

Elizabeth Carr 
PARCHEL, Samuel D. 

George E. Hutcherson 
PATE, Edward 

Mary Fitzpatrick 
PATRICK, Benjamin B. 

Adaline Maddox 
PATRICK, Charles L. 

Amanda J. Sidwell 
PATRICK, Constantine 
Polly Perkins 
PATRICK, Josiah 
Bethsheba Phillips 
PATRICK, Lucius 
Sarah C. Jarrell 
PATRICK, Robert 
Kitty Curry 

PATRICK, Samuel, Jr. 

Mary E. Lewis 
PARTRIDGE, Charles 
Mary Lankford 
PARTRIDGE, Thomas 
Elizabeth Loyd 
PATTERSON, John 
Susan Pryor 
PATTERSON, John G. 
Ann Smith 

PATTERSON, William H. 

Fannie C. Williams 
PATTERSON, William P. 

Martha A. Moody 
PATTILLO, Charles 
Amelia Holt 
PATTILLO, Henry A. 

Henrietta H. Hall 
PATTILLO, James 
Elizabeth Jeter 
PATTILLO, John 
Polly Winfield 
PATTILLO, Samuel 
Fanney Hall 
PAULSON, Neel 

Rebeccah Cochran 
PEAK, Leonard 
Jane Barnhardt 
PEEK, Hart C. 

Elizabeth C. Brooks 


February 2, 1840 
Reuben B. Armor 
March 22, 1822 
Robert Booth 
February 10, 1826 

December 7, 1854 
Winchel 
October 15, 1819 
Rich Gilbert 
March, 1833 
John M. Cox 
September 10, 1858 
William J. Parks 
January 9, 1797 

December 30, 1801 

January 21, 1869 
Joe R. Parker 
April 26, 1796 

April 26, 1875 
C. C. Davison 
October 27, 1874 
John T. Dolvin 
December 22, 1868 
E. B. Mosely 
November 25, 1817 
William Watson 
May 5, 1850 
Joseph W. Drennan 
June 20, 1858 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
September 3, 1840 
Robert Tolfree 
December 7, 1820 
Samuel Cowles 
June 20, 1866 
V. A. Bell, M. G. 
January 11, 1810 
Wm. McGiboney 
February 28, 1816 
Robert Rea 
April 14, 1795 

April 16, 1819 
John Myrick 
July 8, 1832 
James M. Norwood 
January 27, 1829 


590 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


PEEK, Archibald P. 

Emily Robinson 
PEEK, John C. 

Jane Adeline Michael 
PEEK, John C. 

Frances Bryan 
PEEK, Leonard 
Sarah Patrick 
PEEK, Leonard 
Sarah Patrick 
PEEK, Littleberry 
Elizabeth Williams 
PEEK, Micajah L. 

Judah Ann A. Johnson 
PEEK, Robert 

Emily J. L. Trippe 
PEEK, Simon T. 

Elizabeth Jones 
PEEK, Singleton 
Louisa Moody 
PEEK, William C. 

Martha C. Bell 
PEEK, William J. 

Viney J. Porter 
PEEK, William T. 

Amanda Colley 
PEELER, Anderson J. 

Malinda Cook 
PEELER, Anthony 
Mary Williams 
PEELER, Berry 
Emily McClellan 
PEELER, Jacob 
Sally Martin 
PERVY, Allen 

Elizabeth Hightower 
PENDERGRASS, Jesse 
Polly Devaney 
PENN, Moss 
Penny Bird 
PENN, William S. 

Eliza White 

PENNINGTON, James 
Martha Crawford 
PEMBLETpN, Joshua 
Jane Griffen 
PEOPLES, Benjamin 
Mary Watts 
PEOPLES, Dudley 
Matilda Park 
PEOPLES, Hubbard 
Elizabeth Heard 


February 1, 1866 
Henry C. Weaver 
March 18, 1830 
William Bryan 
August 15, 1838 
Reuben B. Arnold 
December 7, 1841 
James Davidson 
May 14, 1846 
James W. Godkin 
March 15, 1824 

December 24, 1833 
William Bryan 
February 22, 1833 
William Bryant 
January 14, 1845 
M. F. Baker 
December 28, 1843 
J. M. Davison 
December 29, 1874 

January 7, 1875 
John R. Young 
October 30, 1874 
J. R. Parker 
January 1, 1826 
E. Talley 
December 2, 1827 
William Austin 
December 30, 1829 
William Bryan 
November 24, 1814 
Thomas Riley 
March 7, 1815 
Thomas Bush 
September 5, 1830 
Peter Johnson 
June 25, 1804 

December 16, 1834 
George Heard 
October 2, 1845 
Thadeus Pennington 
September 20, 1805 

November 4, 1824 

October 6, 1819 

January 15, 1795 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


591 


PEPPIN, Noah 
Betsy Rowland 
PEPPIN, Noah 
Emma Patrick 
PERDUE, Daniel 

Rebekah Houghton 
PERDUE, Daniel 
Mary S. Finley 
PERDUE, George 
Sarah Johnson 
PERDUE, James H. 

Elizabeth Billingslea 
PERDUE, John 
Dimmy Hunt 
PERDUE, L. Crawford 
Ella Carey 
PERDUE, Thomas 
Peggy Gaston 
PERKINS, Absalom 
Frances A. Moore 
PERKINS, Albert 
Mary C. Braddy 
PERKINS, Ezekiel 
Sally English 
PERKINS, Hamilton 
Emma Lewis 
PERKINS, James H. 

Mary E. Gresham 
PERKINS, James I. 

Frances W. Terrell 
PERKINS, John 
Nancy Ransom 
PERKINS, Nicholas 
Cecile Jackson 
PERKINS, Nicholas 
Mary Dixon 
PERKINS, Robert 
Sarah B. Johnson 
PERKINS, William 
Polly Harp 
PERKINS, William 
Nancy Davis 
PERMAN, William 
Maria J. E. Merritt 
PERRY, Dickinson 
Eliza 

PERRY, Robert H. 

Lucy A. Stone 
PETEET, William E. 

Mary Ann Brown 
PETERS, John 
Sally Haynes 


December 18, 1825 

November 12, 1868 

November 7, 1815 
West Harris 
November 7, 1839 
Hinton Crawford 
August, 1838 

November 26, 1857 
G. Bright 
September 24, 1839 
P. C. Johnson 
January 13, 1870 
J. M. Dickery 
December 10, 1807 
C. Maddox 
October 29, 1870 

October 21, 1847 

February 1, 1810 
William Greer 
April 23, 1871 
J. M. Loury, M. G. 
November 10, 1867 
J. M. Springer, M. G. 

January 14, 1838 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 30, 1819 
John Harris 
December 9, 1834 
Albert R. Jackson 
December 7, 1850 

March 24, 1806 

January 30, 1805 

January 28, 1816 
L. Bethune 
May 2, 1867 
A. H. Smith 
February 23, 1825 

March 25, 1875 
James W. Godkin 
November 18, 1869 
J. M. Dickey, M. G. 
February 1, 1807 
William Greer 


592 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


PETERSON, Josiah S. 

Matilda Manley 
PETTY, William H. 

Mattie D. Fambrough 
PEURIFOY, Jackson B. 

Virginia A. Hutchinson 
PEURIFOY, McCarrol 

Phebe Anderson John 

PHARR, Ephraim 
Mary Mathews 
PHELPS, Augustus B. 

Sabrina Brown 
PHELPS, Henry 

Rebecca H. Bowden 
PHELPS, Jackson 
Rebecca Hobbs 
PHILEMON, Edmundson 
Nancy McGee 
PHILLIPS, Abner 
Ann B. Burford 
PHILLIPS, Daniel 
Parthenia Vaughn 
PHILLIPS, Elbert 
Charlotte Howell 
PHILLIPS, Elijah 
Tabitha Walker 
PHILLIPS, Hardy 
Rebekah Veazey 
PHILLIPS, Henry 
Eliza Fuller 
PHILLIPS, Jackson 
Daney Connell 
PHILLIPS, Jesse 
Betsy Martin 
PHILLIPS, Jonathon 
Betsy Howell 
PHILLIPS, Thomas E. 

Cary Ann Connell 
PHILLIPS, Zachariah 
Mary Ann Richards 
PHILLIPS, Lancelot 

Martha Anne R. Mapp 
PIERCE, Bartley 
Betsy Gilmore 
PIERCE, Edmund 
Louiza Took 
PIERCE, John 

Margaret Moon 
PIERCE, Lazerous 
Mary Smith 
PIERCE, Lovick 

Ann Martin Foster 


June 6, 1844 
J. N. Glenn 
December 15, 1870 
Malone H. Landrum 
December 18, 1851 
William Bryan 
October 31, 1865 
W. McCrary, M. G. 
April 12, 1819 

April 27, 1861 
H. A. Houston 
June 16, 1842 
N. H. Hill 
April 1, 1840 
John G. Holtzclaw 
December 21, 1815 
Lemuel Greene 
January 3, 1853 
Ephraim Bruce 
April 26, 1835 
William Rowland 
September 25, 1810 
James Holt 
September 29, 1805 

October 23, 1814 
Archibald Watts 
February 2, 1831 
Thomas Grimes 
December 23, 1873 
W. A. Partee 
December 27, 1821 
W. W. Moore 
January 24, 1800 

December 22, 1870 
Rev. J. S. Patten 
July 18, 1850 
E. S. Hunter 
June 22, 1852 
J. F. Billingslea 
February 3, 1802 

September 16, 1818 
W. Cone 
April 13, 1790 

February 4, 1803 

September 27, 1809 
Josias Randle 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


593 


PIERCE, Matthew 
Nancy Bates 
PIERCE, Wiley M. 

Sarah H. Wright 
PIERCE, Wyly 
Rebekah Harrell 
PILGRIM, Green 
Nancy Ann Bryan 
PIMM, Joseph 

Martha A. Paynter 
PINTHART, John 
Judith Jett 
PIPER, William 
Jane McMichael 
PIPER, Zadick 
Amy Bearden 
PITMAN, Joel J. 

Phenaley Emaline Peek 
POSEY, Bennett 
Nancy Griffin 
POLLARD, Brittian C. 

Sarah E. Benham 
POLLARD, Frederick 
Mary Wright 
POLLARD, James 
Louisa King 
POLLARD, Josiah 
Susan L. Goodman 
POLLARD, Stephen 
Anna Willson 
PONSONBRY, George 
Catherine Howe 
POOL, Gilmon 
Janey Patrick 
POOLE, John 

Martha Stovall 
POPE, John Hardeman 

Demarias Carter Hubbard 
POPE, Littleberry 

Martha A. Cockram 
POPE, Willson 

Nancy Rowland 
PORTER, David O. 

Elizabeth Anne Mays 
PORTER, John 
Mary Chesser 
PORTER, Robert 

Mrs. Willie Thompson 
POTTER, Charles 
Sarah F. Worthy 
POTTER, George Washington 
Mary Thurmond 


October 30, 1836 
James Moore 
August, 1863 
Eugenius L. King 
September 28, 1806 
Henry English 
August 26, 1856 
David R. Elder 
February 19, 1863 
R. A. Houston, M. G. 
December 17, 1807 
George Tuggle 
December 18, 1805 

February 8, 1805 

January 30, 1853 
Hart C. Peek 
March 21, 1796 

November 24, 1834 
Vincent R. Thornton 
September 23, 1819 
John Harris 
November 22, 1824 

November 20, 1866 

July 23, 1818 
John Harris 
July 6, 1803 

July 3, 1807 
Clabourn Maddox 
March 15, 1840 
Thomas Stocks 
October 15, 1850 
N. M. Crawford 
December 15, 1865 

December 8, 1818 
James Riley 
November 27, 1855 
William English 
November 28, 1799 

August 21, 1856 
J. G. Holtzclaw 
February 13, 1868 
E. H. Burgess 
January 11, 1855 
W. A. Partee 


594 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


POTTS, William 
Isabel Simons 
POULLAIN, Felix 
E valine H. Foster 
POULLAIN, Thomas N. 

Mildred P. Sanford 
POWERS, Allinus 

Eugenia A. Stewart 
POWERS, Isaac 

Mary Louisa Stovall 
POWERS, John 

Elizabeth Palmore 
POWERS, William 
Nancy Houghton 
PRATT, James 

Susan Wellmaker 
PRATT, Thomas S. 

Lillian H. Logan 
PRESTON, James A. 

Cornelia C. Davis 
PRICE, Adam A. 

Emily Frances Jones 
PRICE, Enoch N. 

Nancy Colley 
PRICE, Ephriam 
Elizabeth Sayers 
PRICE, Hansford 
Mary Cook 
PRICE, James T. 

Mary A. Jones 
PRICE, Theophilus A. 

Mary A. Clifton 
PRICE, William E. 

Alvina Anne Burkes 
PRIDGES, Laurence (Alonzo) G. 

Susan Rhodes 
PRIEST, Miles M. 

Emma Bennett 
PRIMROSE, James 
Sarah Moore 
PRINCE, George 
Patsy Lawrence 
PRINCE, John 
Nancy Clark 
PRIOR, Harden M. 

Nancy Monfort 
PRITCHELL, James 
Winney Cone 
PRUDDEN, Sydney C. 

Isabella Simonton 


October 25, 1788 

November 11, 1841 
George Pierce 
December 4, 1873 
C. H. Strickland 
February 16, 1872 

November 22, 1839 
John Harris 
November 8, 1829 
Rutt L. Cate 
August 9, 1804 

August 3, 1857 
Larkin R. Sisson 
October 11, 1853 
Robert Logan 
March 1, 1850 
T. J. Bowen 
December 28, 1854 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 1, 1859 
A. A. Jernigan 
August 28, 1828 
Robert Booth 
December 21, 1828 
Ephraim Bruce 
July 30, 1854 
I. A. Williams 
January 16, 1868 
W. H. Blythe 
January 23, 1842 
George Lumpkin 
February 1, 1855 
W. W. Partee 
December 9, 1875 
R. A. Credelle 
November 19, 1822 
William Winfield 
December 27, 1807 
W. M. Johnson 
November 1, 1805 

November 3, 1836 
Thomas Stocks 
September 14, 1831 
Benj. F. Martin 
March 30, 1843 
Francis Bowman 


PRYCER, Jackson 
Sarah Waggoner 


July 7, 1844 
I. N. Wilson 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


595 


PRYOR, Allen 
Elizabeth Cole 
PRYOR, Marlow 
Mary Armor 
PUCKELL, John 
Tabitha Richards 
PUGH, Bervy 

Martha J. Vine 
PUGH, James 
Ann Vine 
PULLEN, Sanford 
Susannah Pullen 
PURDEE, George 
Sarah Johnson 
PURDEE, John 
Dimmy Hunt 

PURDELL, John Thomas 
Sarah Frances Nunn 
PURDUE, John T. 

Eliza F. Smith 
PURKS, William 

Sarah E. M. King 
PYRON, Charles 
Nancy Pyron 
QUINN, Charles 
Dilly Houghton 
QUINN, John C. 

Frances E. Branch 
RABURN, Mathew 
Hannah Walls 
RADEN, John 
Nancy Curry 
RADEN, J. N. 

Anita A. M. Dixon 
RADIN, George 
Elizabeth Ray 
RAGAN, Ibzan 

Caroline Perkins 
RAGAN, John 
Susanna Battle 
RAGAN, Moses 
Martha Newsom 
RAGARD, John 
Maria Harper 
RAINEY, Etheldred 

Elizabeth Amanda Johnson 
RAINEY, John N. 

Mattie Lunsford 
RAINEY, William J. 

Ella V. Sanford 
RAINWATER, Charles A. 
Cornelia J. Veazey 


September 18, 1799 

September 12, 1816 
Lovick Pierce 
October 3, 1811 
Wm. McGiboney 
January 7, 1874 
W. A. Partee 
February 12, 1874 
W. A. Partee 
January 10, 1828 
John Harris 
June 17, 1840 

September 24, 1839 
P. C. Johnson, J. P. 
July 12, 1869 
William K. Wilson 
November 26, 1843 
James W. Godkin 
June 25, 1857 
Wm. M. Crumly, M. G. 

March 20, 1827 
Joshua Gannon 
February 6, 1801 

November 11, 1854 

November 11, 1802 

October 6, 1814 
John Browning 
January 28, 1855 
B. E. Spencer 
January 22, 1829 
Elijah Holtzclaw 
February 15, 1841 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 21, 1789 

May 25, 1847 
Vincent R. Thornton 
June 9, 1814 
O. Porter 
March 10, 1840 
B. M. Sanders 
August 31, 1871 
John R. Young 
November 19, 1868 
J. M. Dickey, M. G. 
April 1, 1875 
J. H. Kilpatrick 


596 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


RAINWATER, Joseph H. 

Letitia Williams 

RAINWATER, Lacy D. 

Dorothy Bell 

RAINWATER, W. T. 

Asthenath Wright 

RALLS, Hector 

Nancy Atkinson 

RALLS, James H. 

Sarah Newsom 

RANDALL, Thomas W. 

Mirium Hunter 

RANDLE, Augustus Henry 

Emily Reid Asbury 

RANDLE, James G. 

Sally Coleman 

RANDLE. J. W. 

Avarilla Boatsman 

RANDLE, William C. 

Mary S. Hart 

RANKIN, Adam W. 

Sarah Burke 

RANKIN, David 

Mary Moore 

RANKIN, James R. 

Eliza A. Irby 

RANSOM, Joseph 

Patsy Carrel 

RANSOM, Robert 

Polly Ransom 

RANSOM, Thomas H. 

Mrs. Nancy Price 

RAY, Andrew 

Nancy Barker 

RAY, Benjamin 

Elizabeth Bennett 

RAY, Benjamin 

Sarah E. Lanham 

RAY, David 

Elizabeth Jackson 

RAY, Emanuel 

Martha James 

RAY. Isaac 

Elizabeth Sayers 

RAY, John H. 

Sarah Ann Barksdale 

RAY, John T. 

Nannie S. Watts 

RAY, Nimrod 

Polly Mays 

RAY, Shadrach E. 

Delia A. Smith 

December 28, 1875 
N. M. Jones, M. G. 
September 5, 1846 
R. F. Griffen 
June 16, 1856 
Greene Thompson 
December 22, 1814 
John Browning 
May 14, 1846 
E. S. Hunter 
October 3, 1831 
Thomas Stocks 
July 27, 1836 
Vincent R. Thornton 
January 26, 1808 
Peter Early 
November 20, 1870 
W. R. Wilson 
November 5, 1835 
G. A. Chappell 
June 11, 1828 
William Cone 
January 27, 1823 

May 13, 1837 
Peter C. Johnson 
June 26, 1818 
Wm. McGiboney 
July 26, 1807 
Francis Ross 
April 23, 1871 
J. M. Loury 
January 12, 1820 

December 29, 1822 
John Bowles 
April 6, 1848 
T. M. Fambrough 
September 18, 1827 
Joshua Cannon 
January 29, 1822 
J. A. Leftwich 
February 19, 1825 

August 23, 1852 
B. Rowland 
November 26, 1868 

March 22, 1825 

September 11, 1860 
William Bryan 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


597 


RAY, William 

November 13, 1807 

Mary Orr 

William Greer 

RAY, William 

July 5. 1830 

Susannah Burk 

RAY, William 

November 17, 1836 

Mary Kennedy 

Nathan Hobbs 

REA, Benjamin F. 

July 13, 1847 

Laura Gresham 

Francis Bowman 

REA, Robert 

August 26, 1818 

Jane Smith 

REA, Robert 

December 27, 1821 

Nancy Akins 

O. Porter 

READ, James 

November 26, 1804 

Rhoda Brown 

REDD, Albert G. 

April 25, 1849 

Henrietta E. Daniel 

Francis Bowman 

REDD, James 

May 27, 1830 

Mary Lewis 

Lovick Pierce 

REDDIN, James 

October 9, 1816 

Elizabeth Bledsoe 

John Browning 

REDDIN, James 

April 30, 1818 

Polly Nickelson 

John Myrick 

REDDING, Thomas 

June 25, 1825 

Mary Brockman 

REDMOND, John 

August 6, 1871 

Frances Aaron 

W. C. Birchmore 

REED, Freeman 

December 10, 1835 

Nancy Ray 

Wm. H. Price 

REED, James 

February 6, 1842 

Ann Bickers 

Thomas Stocks 

REED, Robert N. 

June 15, 1865 

Julia K. Brown 

P. H. Mell, M. G. 

REED, William 

February 6, 1828 

Nancy Jarrell 

Hermon Mercer 

REED, Zachariah 

March 3, 1789 

Ginney Adams 

REESE, Charles 

April 15, 1830 

Lucy Merriwether 

M. Reed 

REESE, Drury 

June 11, 1849 

Phidella Phillips 

REID, Felix C. 

October 15, 1863 

Sallie C. Lightfoot 

J. M. Kilpatrick 

REID, Reuben 

December 15, 1788 

Polly Alford 

REID, William T. 

April 28, 1859 

Mary A. E. Kendall 

C. W. Key 

REID, Zachariah 

January 14, 1790 

Polly Lawrence 


REYNOLDS, James 

December 27, 1840 

Lucretia Perkins 

David Daniel 

REYNOLDS. James 

March 25, 1856 

Eliza Wright 

J. P. Duncan 


598 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


REYNOLDS, James H. 

November 12, 186? 

Emily J. Stewart 

W. R. Wilson 

REYNOLDS, John 

January 3, 1858 

Cynthia S. Reynolds 

T. Callahan 

REYNOLDS, John 

September 5, 1875 

Martha J. Freeman 

John S. Callaway 

REYNOLDS, John C. 

December 31, 1868 

Emma Moody 

Wm. A. Overton 

REYNOLDS, Levy 

October 15, 1811 

Metsey Moore 

Arthur Foster 

REYNOLDS, Mordecai J. 

May 29, 1858 

Ann A. Tuggle 

REYNOLDS, Mordecai J. 

September 5, 1865 

Electra A. Durham 

William R. Wilson 

REYNOLDS, William E. 

July 20, 1875 

Lizzie A. Newton 

Henry Newton 

REID, Brice 

February 15, 1821 

Sarah Tanner 

John Harris 

RHIMES, William 

September 18, 1821 

May Wilkerson 

Francis West 

RHODES, A. S. W. 

December 8, 1841 

Sarah Smith 

Ephraim Bruce 

RHODES, Henry 

September 16, 1823 

Rebecah Day 

RHODES, Henry 

December 17, 1850 

Eliza Williams 

RHODES, Johnson 

April 2, 1855 

Martha Potter 

I. R. Hall 

RHODES, Johnson R. 

January 11, 1868 

Caroline Horton 

R. B. Kelley 

RHODES, Martin V. 

April 25, 1841 

Elizabeth Finley 

I. M. Wilson 

RHODES, Thomas 

October 29, 1817 

Frances Gresham 

Jesse Mercer 

RHODES, Wiley 

December 17, 1840 

Margaret Mitchell 

Vincent R. Thornton 

RHODES, Wiley A. T. 

October 5, 1840 

Elizabeth Ann Patterson 

S. G. Jenkins 

RHODES, William 

December 10, 1820 

Milly Evans 

Malichi Murden 

RHODES, William C. 

November 15, 1868 

Mary F. Gordon 

James Davison 

RICHARDS, Azaria 

October 3, 1820 

Lelila Woods 

RICHARDS, Calvus 

August 12, 1873 

Myrtus Thornton 

W. A. Overton 

RICHARDS, Pickerel 

November 30, 1799 

Hannah Beardin 

RICHARDS, Terah 

December 17, 1818 

Lucy Bates 

John Harris 

RICHARDS, William A. 

September 9, 1851 

Savannah W. Ledbetter 

John C. Merritt 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


599 


RICHARDS, Willis 
Elizabeth Irby 
RICHARDSON, James 
Betsy Kineman 
RICHARDSON, Robert 
Nancy Carter 

RICHTER, Charles W., Jr. 

Mary L. Hunter 
RIGHTS, John 

Rebeccah Panton 
RILEY, Henry N. 

Levina Bell 
RILEY, James G. 

Mary F. Brunt 
RILEY, James G. 

Sarah Ann Sims Woodard 
RILEY, Joseph 
Betsy Smith 
RILEY, Thomas 
Sally Hill 

RILEY, Thomas P. 

Linnie Armor 
RILEY, William M. 

Louisa Ann Mallery 
RISSEL, William 
McCulloch 
ROAD, Benjamin 
Sally Whitlock 
ROARKS, Joel 
Emily Wright 
ROBERTS, David 

Eliza Green Roberts 
ROBERTS, Andrew 
Susan Bennett 
ROBERTS, Frederick 
Martha Lewis 
ROBERTS, Jo 
Clarey Goode 
ROBERTS, John 
Polly Milton 
ROBERTS, Richard 
Sally Baker 
ROBERTS, R. F. G. 

Nancy Meredith 
ROBERTS, William 
Frankey Samson 
ROBERTS, William B. 

Emily Greer 
ROBERTSON, Jesse 
Mary Irby 

ROBERTSON, John 
Jennett Evans 


December 29, 1846 

I. A. Williams 
July 1, 1807 

John Mapp 
January 2, 1831 
Butt L. Cate 
September 12, 1866 
Philip B. Robinson 
November 6, 1804 

May 14, 1851 

June 8, 1843 
R. G. Griffin 
March 19, 1848 
Hinton Crawford 
April 2, 1811 
Robert Rea 
January 10, 1808 
George Smith 
October 18, 1870 
J. M. Dickey 
January 8, 1825 
James Anderson 
June 29, 1799 

March 27, 1803 

November 28, 1845 
Ephraim Bruce 
December 20, 1818 
A. Gresham 
June 21, 1856 

November 12, 1826 
Abraham Baugh 
September 5, 1804 

June 24, 1803 

September 13, 1804 

May 10, 1846 

J. B. Chappel 
December 30, 1801 

December 22, 1842 
Hinton Crawford 
March 6, 1820 

April 13, 1832 
John Park 


600 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


ROBERTSON, Willis 
Polly Coleman 
ROBERTSON, William 
Anny Stringfellow 
ROBERTSON, Z. 

Susannah Bridges 
ROBINS, Albert M. 

Dianah D. Walker 
ROBINS, James R. 

S. M. Wilkins 
ROBINS, John 

Elizabeth Stoutamire 
ROBINS, Thomas S. 

Sarah A. Avery 
ROBINS, William 
Sarah Williams 
ROBINSON, Benjamin 
Narcisa Harris 
ROBINSON, Benjamin 
Martha Cochran 
ROBINSON, Benjamin 
S. M. Bruce 
ROBINSON, James 
Eliza Kicker 

ROBINSON, John Pope 
Sarah Williams 
ROBINSON, John Pope 
Julia Pearman 
ROBINSON, Joseph 
Martha Ellis 

ROBINSON, Joseph W. 

Caroline B. Smith 
ROBINSON, Lewellin 
Amelia Coleman 
ROBINSON, Phillip B. 

Mrs. Nancy T. Sweet 
ROBINSON, Milford 
Francina Parker 
ROBINSON, Thomas W. 

Mary E. Park 
ROBINSON, William H. 

Malinda Patrick 
ROBINSON, William H. 

Henrietta Bruce 
RODGERS, Andrews J. 

Mary J. Owens 
ROGERS, Joel B. 

Lizzy Jones 
ROGERS, John 
Mary Kizerk 
ROSE, William 
Frankey Burch 


December 13, 1804 
Thomas Crawford 
February 4, 1818 
O. Porter 
January 2, 1800 

April 5, 1859 
L. B. Jackson 
April 29, 1873 
E. Heiat, M. G. 
July 22, 1827 
William Aston 
October 17, 1850 
James M. Kelly 
October 23, 1827 
Nat. Harris 
November 14, 1815 
Thomas Lyne 
August 11, 1868 
A. J. S. Jackson 
August 15, 1871 
W. H. Wright 
August 3, 1826 
Reubein White 
April 8, 1828 
E. Tally 
January 9, 1873 
John P. Wagnon 
August 25, 1836 
William L. Pullen 
October 12, 1841 
F. R. Golding 
June 24, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
October 26, 1858 
William J. Parks 
December 29, 1830 
Mathew Winfield 
June 25, 1861 
Albert Gray 
October 17, 1866 
Lorenzo D. Carlton 
April 16, 1872 
John Dolvin 
December 24, 1872 
John D. Copeland 
February 22, 1872 
John D. Copeland 
January 23, 1802 

June 13, 1804 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


601 


ROSS, Samuel 

Polly McCombs 

ROUM, Charles 

Adelaid King 

ROUNSEVALL, Robert 

Grace Finley 

ROUZEL, Hiram 

Emaliza Williams 

ROWLAND, Charles R. 

Mattie Ledbetter 

ROWLAND, Barksdale 

Elizabeth Parrott 

ROWLAND, David R. 

Cornelia Smith 

ROWLAND, James 

Emily Jackson 

ROWLAND, James 

Julia F. Hutcherson 

ROWLAND, John 

Harriett Stines 

ROWLAND, John G. 

Sarah Virginia Curtwright 
ROWLAND, John J. 

C. L. Hutcherson 

ROWLAND, Jordan 

Sally Swan 

ROWLAND, Jordan 

Lucinda Wright 

ROWLAND, Wiley 

Elizabeth Akers 

ROWLAND, William 

Mary Jackson 

ROWLAND, William, Sen. 

Winnie R. Newton 

ROWLAND, William A. 

Sallie M. Hudson 

ROWLAND, William D. 

Sarar F. R. Bryan 

ROYSTON, John 

Polly Cesna 

ROZIER, William 

Rhoda C. Drennon 

RUARKS, Joel J. 

Mrs. Mary F. Hooks 

RUMNEY, James E. 

Mary E. Hendrey 

RUMIEL, Greenberry 

Polly Jones 

RUNDLES, James 

Amy Willson 

RUSSELL, Ignatious 

Eleanor Kimbrough 

February 23, 1815 
John Armor 
February 22, 1847 
J. F. Billingslea 
December 20, 1821 
Francis Cummins 
March 21, 1840 
John G. Holtzclaw 
August 26, 1875 
W. H. Blythe 
October 1, 1837 
Lemuel T. Crossley 
December 22, 1868 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 

May 7, 1824 

April 22. 1842 
James Godkin 
January 8, 1854 
B. Rowland 
December 1, 1857 
Wm. J. Park, M. G. 
November 15, 1849 

May 17, 1797 

July 12, 1829 
William Bryan 
October 12, 1826 
Jacob Riley 
January 26, 1819 
John Harris 
February 23, 1862 
W. J. Cotter, M. G. 
December 13, 1859 
O. L. Smith 
November 2, 1855 
William Bryan 
January 6, 1803 

January 23, 1852 
J. T. Finley 
July 11, 1858 
L. B. Jackson 
January 2, 1868 
L. D. Carlton 
March 2, 1805 

September 20, 1819 

July 20, 1801 


602 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


RUSSELL, Samuel H. 

Elizabeth Parrott 
RUTLAND, Wiley 
Pamelia Chewning 
RYAN, Haynes S. 

Mary M. Roberts 
RYE, Joseph 

Betsy Wilson 
RYLES, James G. 

Mary E. Jones 
SAMS, James 

Adeline Wright 
SAMSON, Robert 
Polly Mosely 
SAMSON, William 
Delphy Clay 
SANDERS, Alser 

Elizabeth Newberry 
SANDERS, George 
Sarah Clarke 
SANDERS, George 
Polly Jones 
SANDERS, James 
Polly Hall 

SANDERS, James Ragan 
Cornelia M. Jones 
SANDERS, John Q. 

Cordelia E. Hard (Hart) 
SANDERS, Thomas L. 

Parmelia White 
SANDERS, William 
Elizabeth Jenkins 
SANDERS, Zadock 
Holly Sayers 

SANDERSON, George W. 

Eugenia H. Sayers 
SANFORD, Ben 
Jimmy Armor 
SANFORD, Henry 
Susan Ann Smith 
SANFORD, Shelton P. 

Maria F. Dickerman 
SANFORD. William 
Polly Harris 
SANFORD, William 
Sally B. Daniel 
SANKEY, Dr. John T. 

Anna Daniel 
SANKEY, Richard O. 

Mary M. Watts 
SANKEY, Dr. Richard T. 
Frances Love 


January 12, 1826 
Benj. Gildersleeve 
January 2, 1819 

September 8, 1836 
James Moore 
July 10, 1790 

January 13, 1852 
B. M. Sanders 
October 2, 1828 

June 29, 1805 

June 27, 1806 

February 27, 1805 

May 29, 1824 

January 28, 1825 

June 13, 1805 

January 4, 1842 
B. M. Sanders 
July 4, 1833 
Thomas Stocks 
February 19, 1852 
F. W. Prior 
December 15, 1835 
Thomas Stocks 
December 12, 1819 
Reuben White 
March 30, 1866 
H. C. Peek 
August 11, 1803 

April 2, 1840 
Thomas Stocks 
July 20, 1840 
Otis Smith 
March 11, 1805 

July 3, 1814 
Nicholas Lewis 

1801 

May 4, 1854 
S. G. Hillyer 
October 20, 1831 
J. N. Glenn, M. G. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


603 


SANKEY, William D. 

Margaret Daniel 
SAPP, Richard H. 

Sarah M. Kellam 
SARGEANT, John C. 

Nancy Anne Bruce 
SAXON, Lewis W. 

Eliza Parnell 
SAYERS, David 

Elizabeth Robinson 
SAYERS, James M. 

Delana Richards 
SAYERS, James M. 

Nancy A. Lucky 
SAYERS, John S. 

Frances Price 
SAYERS, Joshua L. 

Permelia Ansley 
SCAMPER, Daniel 
Polly Finley 
SCOGGINS, John 
Mary Ann Nelms 
SCOGGINS, John T. 

Mary Forrester 
SCOTT, James N. 

Mary J. Bowles 
SCOTT, John T. 

Ann B. Cartwright 
SCOTT, Pulaskie S. 

Charity N. Grimes 
SCUDDER, Samuel C. 

Eunice Safford 
SEALS, Henrv 

Angelina Carrel 
SEALS, John H. 

Mary E. Sanders 
SELF, James E. 

Artemisa Jordan 
SELF, William 

Matilda Knowles 
SESSIONS, Jeremiah M. 

Sarah E. Porter 
SEYMORE, Evabon 

Lucy E. M. Wingfield 
SEYMOUR, Henry C. 

Anne Cornelia Wingfield 
SHACKELFORD, Charles 
Rebecca Elizabeth Hunter 
SHACKELFORD, Josephus 
Cordelia Stowe 
SHACKELFORD, Lloyd 
Ida J. Mitchell 


March 2, 1824 

August 24, 1852 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 
February 15, 1852 
B. Rowland 
October 8, 1867 
E. A. Burgess 
September 15, 1804 

November 24, 1825 

January 8, 1836 
James Moore 
March 3, 1824 
G. W. West 
November 18, 1834 
James F. Hillyer 
April 1, 1803 

April 15, 1829 
Robert Burdell 
December 14, 1826 

December 12, 1856 

September 2, 1834 
Thomas W. Grimes 
May 1, 1838 
Francis Bowman 
November 13, 1848 
H. Safford 
November 3, 1827 

October 1, 1857 
William Williams 
September 8, 1850 
Daniel Hightower 
March 11, 1828 
William Austin 
November 5, 1856 
W. H. C. Cone 
April 10, 1822 
Francis Cummins 
April 20, 1841 

October 5, 1836 
Jonathan Davis 
April 18, 1855 
L. R. L. James 
January 20, 1869 
J. J. Brantley 


604 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


SHANNON, William 
Margaret Nickelson 
SHARKLEY, Silas 
Dorcas Tait 
SHARP, Benjamin 
Martha Jackson 
SHARP, John 
Sally Peoples 
SHARP, Martial 

Matilda McGuire 
SHARP, Richard 
Polly Guinn 
SHARP, Robert 
Lucindia Newell 
SHAW, Creytin 
Caroline Barnes 
SHAW, James E. 

Josephine M. Davis 
SHAW, John 
Della Findley 
SHAW, Samuel 
Emma Roe 
SHEATS, Benajah 

Mary Ann Richardson 
SHED, Prelow 
Nancy Nichols 
SHED, William 

Amanda M. Parks 
SHELL, Reuben R. 

Jane Lucas 
SHELL, T. I. 

Clarissa Bruce 
SHELTON, George W. 

Mary Ann Morris 
SHELTON, John L. 

Rebecca A. Sidwell 
SHERIDAN, Dennis 
Polly Riley 
SHERIDAN, R. W. 

Lucienda Shell 
SHELEY, Richmond 
Delila Blythe 
SHERRELL, Littleberry 
Elizabeth Bedell 
SHERWOOD, Adial 
Ann Early 
SHEY, Samuel 

Mary B. Crawford 
SHIELDS, William 
Catherine Cone 

SHIPP, John H. 

Elizabeth O’Neal 


October l, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
December 23, 1818 

January 25, 1843 
B. M. Sanders 
June 12, 1801 

November 30, 1819 

May 11, 1816 
Wm. McGiboney 
February 15, 1818 
Thomas Johnson 
August 7, 1870 
W. C. Birchmore 
December 13, 1868 
Wm. A. Overton 
November 18, 1818 
L. Bethune 
December 28, 1869 
James W. Godkin 
July 23, 1838 
Thomas Grimes 
March 20, 1861 

July 4, 1860 
R. B. Kelly 
January 2, 1843 

December 9, 1846 
L. A. Williams 
October 5, 1858 
J. H. Wragg 
December 8, 1864 
James W. Godkin 
May 24, 1813 
Robert Rea 
March 7, 1852 
B. Rowland 
June 10. 1820 
Wm. McGiboney 
March 9, 1825 

May 18, 1821 

September 3, 1846 
Wm. T. Parks, M. G. 
August 25, 1801 

December 27, 1866 
John C. Merritt 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


605 


SHIPP, Lemuel 
Elizabeth Peek 
SHIPP, Stephen 
Luciena Irby 
SHIRLING, James N. 

Martha Anne Peek 
SHIRLING, Rabun W. 

Mary Ann Gaston 
SHIRLING, Richard 
Rebecca W. Lewis 
SHIRLING, Richard 
Nancy Lewis 
SHIVERS, Thomas J. 

Sarah Ann Martin 
SHOCKLEY, Benjamin 
Patsy Gatlin 

SHROPSHIRE, James H. , 
Sally Henly 

SHROPSHIRE, Joshua 
Elizabeth Booles 
SHROPSHIRE, Wesley 
Nancy Swanson 
SHY, William H. 

Eliza May Bowden 
SIDWELL, John 
Sallie E. Bruce 
SIGNAW, Thomas 
Betsy Daniell 
SILVEX, Hinton C. 

Sarah Jane' Holder 
SIMMONS, Charles 
Polly Parker 
SIMMONS, Charles J. 

Nancy Little 
SIMMONS, Frank M. 

Mary Styans 
SIMMONS, Franklin 
Susan Channell 
SIMMONS, Henry S. 

Aseneth Parker 
SIMMONS, Jack 
Polly Leonard 
SIMMONS, Simeon 
Nancy Parrott 
SIMMONS, Stephens 
Matilda Leonard 
SIMMS, Frederick 
Sally Baine 
SIMONTON, Ezekiel 
Sophia Greer 
SIMONTON, Joel 
Sarah Powers 


July 18, 1844 
James Moore 
May 15, 1834 
James Moore 
September 12, 1841 
Ephraim Bruce 
December 29, 1846 
R. F. Griffen 
August 3, 1855 
William Bryan 
July 6, 1858 
William Bryan 
February 25, 1836 
George F. Pierce 
December 28, 1819 

December 17, 1805 

December 1, 1822 
William Greer 
January 6, 1826 

November 23, 1868 

June 10, 1866 
Lucious C. Broome 
May 30, 1805 

November 8, 1864 

November 20, 1793 

December 25, 1836 
Mathew Oliver 
December 30, 1860 
J. M. Kelly 
July 23, 1836 

June 15, 1833 
J. P. Leveritt 
August 7, 1821 
H. G. Slaughter 
December 30, 1828 

July 31, 1823 
Thos. W. Slaughter 
April 3, 1804 

January 17, 1816 
William Cone 
September 7, 1814 
Archibald Watts 


606 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


SIMONTON, John A. 

Catherine A. Jossey 
SIMONTON, Thomas 
Rebecca Potts 
SIMPSON, William H. 

Sarah J. Hancock 
SIMS, A. F. 

Lavinia Williams 
SIMS. John M. 

Beathalon Grigsby 
SIMS, William 

Falbra Richards 
SINCLAIR, William F. M. 

Camilla T. Bowles 
SINGLETON, Joseph 
Mary Ann Terrell 
SKIDMORE, Crosley S. 

Eliza W. Smith 
SLADEN, Arthur 
Frances Evans 
SLAUGHTER, George 
Susannah Copeland 
SLAUGHTER, Henry G. 

Elizabeth Kimbrough 
SLAUGHTER, John 
Elizabeth Sayers 
SLAUGHTER, John 
Temperance Harris 
SLAUGHTER, Raney S. 

Nancy L. Credille 
SLAUGHTER, Reuben 
Polly Lawson 
SLAUGHTER, Thomas 
Nancy Lewis 
SLAUGHTER, William 
Nancy Kimbrough 
SMALLWOOD, James 
Mary O’Neal 
SMITH, Alexander H. 

Elizabeth L. Blythe 
SMITH, Alexander H. 

Sallie F. Swann 
SMITH, Azariah 
Celestia Brooks 
SMITH, Burgess 
Eleva Carlton 
SMITH, Daniel N. 

Sophronia Ann Channel 
SMITH, Ebenezer 
Cynthia Lewis 
SMITH, George N. 

Sarah C. Bryan 


October 18, 1843 
W. D. Martin, M. G. 
March 14, 1787 

December 29, 1865 

Lorenzo D. Carlton 
April 1, 1855 
J. F. Thrasher, Jr. 
November 29, 1824 

June 26, 1822 

February 27, 1868 
Philip B. Robinson 
January 4, 1825 

May 21, 1845 
Vincent R. Thornton 
January 29, 1825 

October 8, 1818 

December 14, 1815 
Gilly Moore 
November 8, 1803 

September 27, 1827 
Francis Cummins 
November 22, 1838 
Nathan Oliver 
August 19, 1789 

December 7, 1815 
Walker Lewis 
December 16, 1796 

December 8, 1850 

December 12, 1833 
William Bryan 
January 18, 1871 
Thos. F. Pierce 
January 5, 1871 
L. D. Caldwell 
June 3, 1875 
Clement A. Evans 
April 25, 1848 
W. F. Gaston 
March 12, 1818 
John Harris 
September 16, 1873 
James L. Pierce 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


607 


SMITH, George W. 

Leonora McCommons 
SMITH, Hilliard A. 

Mary E. F. Tarpley 
SMITH, Isaac 
Eliza Moore 
SMITH, Isaac 

Mary Martin 
SMIHT, Isaac 

Elizabeth Kelly 
SMITH, Isaac F. 

Susan A. Phelps 
SMITH, Isaac H. 

Eliza Ruark 
SMITH, Isaac H. 

Amanda M. Smith 
SMITH, James 

Rebecca Winfield 
SMITH, James 

Jane E. Houghton 
SMITH, James, Jr. 

Patience Atkinson 
SMITH, James 

Mary Anderson 
SMITH, James 

M. Fredonia Smith 
SMITH, James C. 

Fredonia Credille 
SMITH, James D. 

Mary Jane Oliver 
SMITH, James H. 

Anna L. J. Hendry 
SMITH, James M. 

Mattie N. Moreland 
SMITH, James R. 

Edna Cheak 
SMITH, James W. 

Carloine M. Swindell 
SMITH, Jedeah 
Flora Williams 
SMITH, Jeremiah 
Mary Peters 
SMITH, Joel 

Frances McLellan 
SMITH, John 

Milly Hightower 
SMITH, John 
Harriet Park 
SMITH, John 

Elizabeth Catherine Oliver 
SMITH, John 

Martha A. Miller 


January 19, 1864 
John R. Young, M. G. 
December 18, 1866 
Jefferson F. Wright 
July 28, 1862 
A. Hays 
January 28, 1819 
Reuben White 
July 28, 1862 
A. L. Willis 
January 31, 1867 
Thomas J. Peek 
September 11, 1866 
William Bryan 
February 11, 1873 
N. M. Jones 
October 4, 1824 

December 19, 1833 
C. T. Beeman 
July 31, 1842 
Hartwell H. Lawrence 
June 1, 1845 
R. F. Griffen 
November 30, 1868 

December 8, 1868 
W. H. Blythe 
July 31, 1866 
L. O. Carlton 
January 22, 1874 
W. A. Overton 
December 16, 1875 
L. D. Caldwell 
November 26, 1850 
James M. Kelly 
October 14, 1852 
J. W. Yarbrough 
September 5, 1822 
John Harris 
October 4, 1818 
John Willson 
May 6, 1847 
William Bryan 
February 15, 1810 
W. McGiboney 
April 1, 1812 

March 14, 1839 
Ephraim Bruce 
December 14, 1848 
Francis Bowman 


608 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


SMITH, John F. 

June 1, 1858 

Mary A. Hargrove 

L. R. L. Jennings 

SMITH, Nathan 

March 30, 1815 

Fanny Smith 

Robert Rea 

SM.TH, Nathaniel 

November 24, 1808 

Elizabeth Hutson 

Henry English 

SMITH, Reddick 

December 20, 1811 

Polly Hall 

A. Veazey 

SMITH, Reddick 

January 11, 1816 

Mary Clarke 

Robert Rea 

SMITH, Reuben C. 

November 21, 1836 

Sarah Kimbrough 


SMITH, Richard A. 

October 9, 1860 

Susan R. Smith 

A. Gray, M. G. 

SMITH, Thomas 

November 21, 1817 

Anna Peters 

John Williams 

SMITH, Thomas 

April 22, 1847 

Patience Smith 

James W. Godkin 

SMITH, Thomas H. 

November 19, 1840 

Emily A. Perdue 

James Jones 

SMITH, William 

February 6, 1802 

Betsy Holland 

SMITH, William C. 

January 25, 1859 

Lavinia A. Swinney 

W. J. Parks, M. G. 

SMITH, William G. 

March 6, 1845 

Patience Smith 

William Bryan 

SMITH, William T. 

June 26, 1866 

Susan M. E. Armor 

Albert Gray, M. G. 

SMITH, Young 

December 28, 1814 

Rebekah Channel 

James Baldwin 

SMITH, Youngset 

April 18, 1816 

Elizabeth Smith 

Thomas Snow 

SNEED, William 

November 24, 1836 

Caroline Scoggins 

Nathan Hobbs 

SNOW, John P. 

January 24, 1819 

Susannah Smith 

Osborne Rogers 

SNOW, Samuel G. 

December 18, 1807 

Polly Copeland 

J. Holt 

SORRELL, George 

November 16, 1799 

Sally Cameron 

SORROW, Joseph C. 

February 2, 1869 

Sarah E. Allen 

John C. Merritt 

SORROW, Nicholas 

September 2, 1866 

Sidney E. A. Nickelson 

Jefferson F. Wright 

SOUTHALL, Hollman 

January 21, 1819 

Nancy Greer 

SOUTHERLAND, John 

April 17, 1818 

Sally Hobbs 

Henry English 

SPARKS, James 

May 8, 1815 

Susan Meadows 

Malichi Murden 

SPARKS, Thomas H. 

Ann Linton 

February 20, 1845 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


609 


SPENCER, John 
Fanny Whatley 
SPENCER, Levi 

Rebecca DeLoach 
SPINKS, Henry H. 

Anna E. Miller 
SPIVEY, Francis H. 

Irena Saxon 
SPIVEY, William 
Amey Batchelor 
SPIVEY, William H. 

Effie J. Armor 
SPRADLING, James 
Sally McMurray 
SPRADLING, William 
Hannah McMurray 
SPURLOCK, John 
Judith Blackman 
STACK, Henry H. 

Eliza Reynolds 
STALLINGS, John E. 

Mary Bass 
STALLINGS, Moses 
Mary Mabry 
STALLINGS, Wilson 
Susanna Smith 
STANDIFER, Jesse 
Elizabeth Houghton 
STANFORD, George 
Indiana Treadray 
STANLEY, Isaac 
Nancy Houghton 
STANLEY, Thomas 

Margaret A. E. Oliver 
STANLEY, William T. 

Martha A. Irby 
STANLEY, James 
Amy Ellis 

STANTAMIN, Newell 
Elizabeth Tally 
STAPP. Stephen 
Sarah Curry 
STARR, Elijah 

Hannah Townsend 
STATHAM, Memory 
Malissa Campbell 
STEELE, Alexander 
Polly Harper 
STELL, Archibald 
Sarah Sanders 
STEPHENS, Henry 
Matilda Stephens 


November 17, 1804 

November 25, 1822 

April 24, 1861 
R. A. Houston 
October 6, 1859 
J. M. Kelly 
October 10, 1831 
George Hall 
February 25, 1874 
Albert Gray, M. G. 
January 7, 1805 

February 15, 1804 

November 26, 1815 
Alex. Johnson 
December 24, 1865 
Thos. F. Pierce 
March 11, 1819 
O. Porter 
January 8, 1827 

July 14, 1822 
H. P. Mabry 
November 19, 1799 

November 25, 1874 
Hart C. Peek 
January 1, 1802 

March 26, 1857 
Hart C. Peek 
August 3, 1856 
T. J. Beck 
June 27, 1806 

March 15, 1821 
John Beattie 
September 15, 1825 
Robert Booth 
April 15, 1805 

July 28, 1826 

June 8, 1804 

June 7, 1855 
B. Rowland 
May 20, 1839 
W. L. Strain 


610 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


STEPHENS, Jesse 
Mary Jane Irby 
STEPHENS, John 
Charlotte Bragg 
STEPHENS, Silan 
Illisa Rankin 
STEPHENS, Walter 
Sarah Ann O’Neal 
STEPHENS, William 
Henrietta Ogletree 
STEPHENSON, Thomas 
Sarah Rounsavale 
STERLING, Jenkins I. 

Sevener Ann Borders 
STEVENS. Edmund 
Mary Goss 
STEVENS, John 
Patsy Parker 
STEVENS, John 

Mary Christopher 
STEVENS, Rollin W. 

Mary A. Greene 
STEVENSON, Stephen W. 

Mary J. Jenkins 
STEWART, Frederick 
Margaret Melson 
STEWART, George 

E. Augusta Weaver 
STEWART, William D. 

Martha Ann Stovall 
STILLMAN, Samuel 
Nancy R. Harris 
STIMSON, William 
Elizabeth Anderson 
STISHER, Solomon 
Mary Bays 
STOCKS, John 

Nancy Fitzpatrick 
STOCKS, Thomas 
Frances A. Davis 
STOKES, John G. 

Anna M. Matthews 
STONE, John T. 

Mary Anne Daniel 
STONE, Hardy 

Jenny Bankenship 
STONE, John W. 

Effie L. Carson 
STOVALL, John 
Martha M. 

STOVALL, Littleberry 
Mary Buchannon 


November 22, 1842 
James Moore 
November 23, 1841 
James Moore 
August 18, 1842 
F. R. Golding, M. G. 
May 27, 1840 
James Moore 
August 2, 1825 
Horatic Nunnelly 
August 18, 1818 
John Harris 
June 4, 1833 
Reuben Thornton 
February 4, 1810 
W. McGiboney 
December 26, 1803 

November 30, 1854 
Daniel Hightower 
December 18, 1860 
Albert Gray, M. G. 
November 14, 1835 

December 30, 1847 
James Moore 
March 10, 1859 
W. J. Parks, M. G. 
August 14, 1845 
Hinton Crawford 
December 22, 1829 
Thomas Sanford 
October 25, 1824 

June 18, 1822 
Chesley Brislow 
May 14, 1800 

November 26, 1848 
P. H. Mell 
December 14, 1856 
John P. Duncan, M. G. 
November 7, 1850 
James W. Godkin 
June 19, 1815 
W. McGiboney 
October 26, 1865 
R. A. Houston 
December 22, 1830 
John Park 
June 14, 1819 
L. Bethune 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


611 


STOVALL, Powhattan 
Temperance Bishop 
STOVALL, Powhattan 
Sarah Ann Crawford 
STOVALL, William H. 

Sallie K. Bunkley 
STRAIN, W. W. 

Sally Spruce 
STRANGE, James W. 

Margaret McLellan 
STRICKLAND, James K. 

Susan E. Rhymes 
STRICKLAND, C. C. O. 

M. G. A. Chandler 
STROUD, John 
Sarah Phillips 
STROZIER, Reuben I. 

Mary W. Wright 
STUBBLEFIELD, Gustavas 
Eliza Perry 

STURDIVANT, George W. 

Frances Z. Y. Nelson 
STURGIS, Charles M. 

Martha C. Thornton 
SWAIN, John 

Mary Whitlock 
SWANN, George 
Elizabeth Baker 
SWANN, John 

Elizabeth Musgrove 
SWANN, John W. 

Lucy P. Jernigan 
SWANN, Joseph 
Anne Surnden 
SWANSON, Graves 
Sally C. Brown 
SWANSON, Graves 
Nancy Wilkinson 
SWEET, James F. 

Nancv J. Park 
SWINDALL, Daniel 
Eunice Ward 
SWINDALL, Thomas 
Mary Curtwright 
SWINDLE, Thomas 
Levina Curtwright 
SWINNEY, Henry 
Martha Lasseter 
SWINNEY, Jothram 
Nancy McIntosh 
SWINNEY, Marcus 
Dianah Jackson 


November 15, 1824 

November 14, 1827 

October 29, 1874 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
October 28, 1799 

August 25, 1864 
R. A. Houston, M. G. 

April 9, 1864 

February 4, 1872 
W. T. Foster 
October 13, 1787 

December 13, 1846 
W. J. Parks 
April 3, 1828 
William Winfield 
February 16, 1854 
Daniel Hightower 
April 14, 1868 
William A. Overton 
October 14, 1831 

December 21, 1819 

December 22, 1819 

April 20, 1848 
W. H. Evans 
May 17, 1804 

December 8, 1808 
George Tuggle 
March 18, 1819 
John Browning 
January 18, 1854 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 

March 6, 1828 
William Bryan 
June 17, 1837 

August 7, 1832 
Samuel Curtwright 
December 21, 1819 
John Park 
November 5, 1827 
Thomas Grimes 
February 17, 1824 


612 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


SWINNEY, William 

February 20, 1819 

Peggy Moore 


TALBOT, James 

November 26, 1829 

Sarah Ann Phillips 

J. W. Glenn, M. G. 

TALLEY, William L. S. 

September 6, 1858 

Nancy R. Smith 

James W. Godkin 

TALLY, Elkanah 

February 1, 1821 

Sarah Anderson 

John Simmons 

TALLY, Nathan 

January 22, 1819 

Catherine Sagar 

D. L. McBride 

TALLY, Nathan 

February 6, 1851 

Martha Travis 

Hinton Crawford 

TALLY, Thomas 

November 12, 1822 

Lucy Tippett 

George Watkins 

TANNER, Floyd 

November 1, 1810 

Judith Tanner 

Robert Rea 

TANNER, Jesse 

February 27, 1820 

Martha Ware 

A. Hutchinson 

TAPPAN, A. B. 

February 21, 1854 

Anne A. Wright 

Daniel Hightower 

TAPPAN, Alexander 

December 8, 1850 

Adelaine Wright 

J. E. Simmons 

TAPPAN, Randolph 

March 22, 1861 

Eliza Ely 

A. Gray, M. G. 

TAPPAN, Samuel W. 

January 16, 1873 

Cornelia Merritt 

J. L. Pierce 

TARPLEY, Archibald 

October 24, 1811 

Ann Lee 

Thomas Stocks 

TARPLEY, Archibald 

July 18, 1866 

Nancy M. Tunnel! 

John W. Talley 

TARPLEY, John 

February 21, 1839 

Jane Bowden 

Hinton Crawford 

TARPLEY, Augustus 

October 19, 1843 

Genette Broughton 

B. M. Sanders 

TARPLEY, John L. 

September 30, 1861 

Mary F. Bryan 


TARWATER, James S. 

November 20, 1847 

Rebecca Phelps 

B. M. Sanders 

TATTUM, Joel 

November 9, 1808 

Polly Price 

Stephen Gatlin 

TAYLOR, Abraham 

May 17, 1818 

Elizabeth Peeler 

James Hall 

TAYLOR, Archibald C 

October 26, 1831 

Eliza Head 

Matthew Winfield 

TAYLOR, Archibald 

August 20, 1844 

Martha Dean 

Matthew Winfield 

TAYLOR, Brantley 

September 29, 1870 

Ellen Smith 

W. C. Birchmore 

TAYLOR, Henry 

August 1, 1822 

Martha A,nn Houghton 

Lovick Pierce 

TAYLOR, James 

December 8, 1831 

Charity Howard 

Thomas J. Park 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


613 


TAYLOR, John 
Martha Kirkley 
TAYLOR, John 
Susan Herron 
TAYLOR, Rudolph 
Nancy Andrews 
TAYLOR, Samuel S. 

Esther E. Williams 
TAYLOR, Seaborn H. 

Fatima Smith 
TAYLOR, Semion 

Elizabeth Ann Carr 
TAYLOR, Thomas 
Sarah Maddox 
TEMPLER, Stuart 

Frances Fitzpatrick 
TERRY, William 
Prudy Wester 
THAXTON, Daniel W. 

Mary English 
THAXTON, James 
Polly Lindsey 
THAXTON, James N. 

Sarah N. Nash 
THAXTON, Jeremiah 
Mary Booles 
THAXTON, Nathaniel 
Susan Lindsey 
THAXTON, Simon 
Nancy Lindsey 
THOMAS, James H. 

Avarilla Harper 
THOMAS, John 

Caroline M. Gregory 
THOMAS, John 

Sarah Ann Hunter 
THOMAS, John I. 

Claudia F. McKinley 
THOMAS, Seth 

Ruthy Ashley Furlow 
THOMAS, William 
Polly Richardson 
THOMAS, William 
Susan E. Burke 
THOMAS, William 
Lucy Ann Harper 
THOMPSON, George 
Rebecca Greene 
THOMPSON, Henry B. 

Mrs. Mary J. Seals 
THOMPSON, Hiram 
Emily Evans 


March 6, 1853 
J. R. Hall 
February 11, 1866 
Wm. M. Chapman 
December 22, 1874 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
December 20, 1855 
T. R. Morgan, M. G. 
May 8, 1865 

January 5, 1832 
A. Perkins 
September 29, 1819 
Thomas Johnson 
November 30, 1799 

July 4, 1804 

June 27, 1875 
James M. Griffen 
September 21, 1825 
John Hatchett 
January 2, 1862 

December 29, 1836 
John G. Holtzclaw 
September 28, 1815 
Lemuel Greene 
January 15, 1823 
Robert Newsome 
November 19, 1850 
Thomas Scott 
November 1, 1825 

December 4, 1827 
Rev. Anderson Ray 
August 25, 1853 
Nathan Hoyt 
December 19, 1826 
David Terrell 
December 21, 1789 

July 28, 1831 
Thomas W. Grimes 
July 27, 1858 
J. H. Wragg 
November 5, 1837 
John G. Holtzclaw 
November 9, 1865 

November 10, 1835 
Mathew Winfield 


614 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


THOMPSON, James 
Eliza Jane Harn 
THOMPSON, James 
Christian Collocan 
THOMPSON, James 
Elizabeth Penny 
THOMPSON, Jeremiah 
Elizabeth Edmundson 
THOMPSON, John 
Nancy Conyers 
THOMPSON, Joseph 
Nancy Greer 

THOMPSON, Joseph M. 

Nancy B. Lucas 
THOMPSON, Matthew 
Lydia Goldsby 
THOMPSON, Moody 
Elizabeth Thompson 
THOMPSON, Moses 
Matilda Ray 

THOMPSON, Richard M. 

Martha Hubbard 
THOMPSON, Samuel 
Polly Sumsden 
THOMPSON, Thomas 
Mary Murrah 
THOMPSON, Thomas 
Susanna Woodard 
THOMPSON, Thomas B. 

Margaret Finley 
THOMPSON, Thomas H. 
Elizabeth Lucas 

THOMPSON, William 
Mary Patrick 

THOMPSON, William A. 

Mary Genett Safford 

THOMPSON, William F. 

Sarah Elizabeth Jones 

THORNBURY, William 
Sarah Bryan 

THORNTON, Henry C. 

Laura Beasley 

THORNTON, Jesse 
Mary Holtzclaw 

THORNTON, Jesse M. 

Mrs. Catherine D. Dickinson 

THORNTON, Joe F. 

Annie Foster Pierce 

THORNTON, Otis S. 

Elizabeth Heard 


August 17, 1814 
Nicholas Lewis 
February 4, 1818 
O. Porter 
October 22, 1820 
A. Hutchinson 
September 9, 1828 
James Park 
December 20, 1821 
Jack Lumpkin 
December 20, 1827 
Isaac Brockman 
July 15, 1841 
H. Bridges 
October 8, 1803 

January 31, 1824 

November 4, 1828 
John Armstrong 
May 6, 1834 
Thos. B. Thompson 
February 22, 1805 

December 14, 1819 
A. Hutchinson 
January 28, 1844 
I. M. Wilson 
January 4, 1841 

December 24, 1846 
A. G. Hutchinson 

November 30, 1799 

May 11, 1852 
Francis Bowman 

October 2, 1839 
Francis S. Colley 

July 27, 1827 

May 20, 1861 

April 27, 1847 
Vincent R. Thornton 

August 6, 1861 

Januarv 19, 1871 
George W. Yarbrough 

September 5, 1865 
John R. Young, M. G. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


615 


THORNTON, Richard 
Elizabeth B. Eley 
THORNTON, Samuel 
Margaret Reid 
THORNTON, Vincent 
Phereba Lynes 
THORNTpN, William R. 

Zymonia A. Randle 
THRASHER, Alexander B. 

Mary Ann Smith 
THRASHER, Early W. 

Martha S. Oliver 
THRASHER, John F. 

Mary A. Rowland 
TIGNER, Hope H. 

Liza Ann Glenn 
TIGNER, Philip 
Nancy Hall 
TILLER, Martin 

Temperance Newsom 
TINDAL, W. 

Martha Harris 
TIPPETT, Frederick 
Nancy Hubbard 
TIPPETT, John 

Matilda Cartwright 
TIPPETT, William 
Fathax Wilkinson 
TIPPIN, Noah 
Lucy Lindsey 
TODD, John H. 

Eliza F. King 
TORBERT, Benjamin F. 

Mary E. Bacon 
TORBERT, John Q. 

Mary A. Jones 
TORBERT, Samuel A. 

Jane E. Walker 
TORRENCE, Ebenezer 
Louisa Beard 
TORRENCE, John 
Mary Bledsoe 
TOUCHSTONE, William 
Georgia Stevens 
TOWNS, Benjamin 
Mahala Hunter 
TOWNS, Drury 
Ann Sankey 
TOWNS, Drury 
Sarah Watson 
TOWNS, John W. 

Elizabeth Lyne 


March 25, 1828 

March 6, 1823 
Herman Mercer 
July 23, 1827 
Jonathon Davis 
December 27, 1859 

August 17, 1851 
William Bryan 
September 24, 1854 
Hart C. Peek 
April 4, 1850 
Hinton Crawford 
January 13, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
February 1, 1794 

January 20, 1853 
Vincent R. Thornton 
December 21, 1789 

November 27, 1821 
A. N. Scott 
June 2, 1836 
James W. Godkin 
November 22, 1825 
John Harris 
February 3, 1833 
Thomas W. Grimes 
February 17, 1827 

December 5, 1871 
W. D. Atkinson, M. G. 

May 31, 1864 
P. M. W. Arnold, M. G. 

April 14, 1870 
Philip Robinson 
January 19, 1830 
Lovick Pierce 
July 8, 1819 
Lovick Pierce 
May 11, 1871 
W. C. Birchmore 
April 6, 1823 
Herman Mercer 
October 17, 1814 

February 9, 1828 
Augustine Greene 
December 30, 1824 


616 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


TOWNSEND, Duncan C. 

Lenora Clayton 
TOWNSING, Anderson C. 

Betsy Ann Barnet 
TOWNSON, William 
Betsy Shropshire 
TREADWAY, Elijah 
Rachael Sweeney 
TRIBBLE, John 

Nancy A. Anderson 
TRIP, James M. 

Rhoda H. Rowland 
TRUIT, Jobe 
Ellivia Besbit 
TUCKER, Jeremiah 
Alice Hunt 
TUCKER, Jeremiah 
Tabatha Houghton 
TUCKER, John 
Mary Daniel 
TUCKER, Treuheart 
Judith Hall 

TUGGLE, Augustus See 
Sarah Ann Haynes 
TUGGLE, Augustus W. 

Martha Brimberry 
TUGGLE, E. B. 

M. E. Bledsoe 
TUGGLE, G. H. 

Dora Overton 
TUGGLE, Leonard 
Nancy Henley 
TUGGLE, Littleberry 

Mary Ann McWhorter 
TUNNEL, Jesse W. 

Martha A. Heard 
TUNNISON, William C. 

Sallie E. Comer 
TURNER, A. 

Jenny Ransome 
TURNER, Boswell 
Virtuous Love 
TURNER, David 
Francina Veazey 
TURNER, David 
Nancy Credille 
TURNER, Eli 

Rebekah Baker 
TURNER, Henry C. 

Louisa J. O’Rear 
TURNER, James 
Elizabeth Cox 


May 23, 1872 
R. W. B. Elliot 
January 24, 1809 

May 21, 1807 
George Tuggle 
December 3, 1820 
John Parks 
March 28, 1845 

December 17, 1835 
A. Hutcheson 
January 26, 1804 

January 10, 1818 

December 2, 1821 
Robert Newsom 
December 31, 1818 
Thomas Stocks 
April 10, 1808 
George Tuggle 
December 3, 1840 
Neville Lumpkin 
January 21, 1868 
William A. Overton 
November 29, 1869 
W. A. Overton, M. G. 

July 7, 1872 
Henry Newton, M. G. 
December 7, 1815 
Thomas Lyne 
December 19, 1837 
Jack Lumpkin, M. G. 
September 6, 1857 
T. J. Beck, M. G. 
October 23, 1874 
Albert Gray 
March 15, 1806 

June 8, 1801 

March 16, 1796 

January 12, 1830 
William Bryan 
February 13, 1816 
William Cone 
September 8, 1859 
A. A. Jernigan 
September 8, 1811 
A. Gresham 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


617 


TURNER, James W. 

Mary Jane Grimes 
TURNER, Jarrell L. 

Rebecca Slaughter 
TURNER, John 

Lorinor Dawson 
TURNER, Reuben T. 

Phebe Ann Bishop 
TURNER, S. S. 

Penelope F. Gatlin 
TURNER, Thomas 
Lurana Credille 
TUTT, George C. 

Annie McDaniel 
TYLER, Alexander 
Martha Catchings 
TYLER, Robert 

Mary E. Crutchfield 
TYLER, Willis 
Sallie Jackson 
UMPHREY, Erastus 
Matilda Oliphant 
UNDERWOOD, Benjamin F. 

Elizabeth Veazey 
UNDERWOOD, Daniel 
Nancy Fillinggame 
UNDERWOOD, George C. 

Mary Veazey 

UNDERWOOD, Jesse H. 

Melvina Jackson 
UNDERWOOD, Miles P. 

Sarah McLelland 
VAN TRIEAU, Constantine 
Louisa Jane Peak 

VAN, VALKINBURGH, Alonza Wandison 
Catherine Park 
VARNER, Joseph W. 

Martha E, Durham 
VASON, John 

Rebeccah Newton 
VAUGHN, Issac 

Adaline M. Harris 
VAUGHN, Wyatt 
Eliza Parker 
VEAL, James H. 

Matilda Underwood 
VEAZEY, Albert A. 

Frances Gresham 
VEAZEY, Allanson E. 

Mariah McGiboney 
VEAZEY, Eli A. 

Mary A. Jackson 


March 19, 1839 
M. P. Peurifoy 
July 5, 1855 
William Bryan 
December 1, 1824 

May 29, 1835 
James W. Godkin 
October 4, 1855 
J. M. Kelly 
November 5, 1833 
C. D. Teurnfog 
September 15, 1873 
James L. Pierce 
February 4, 1822 
William Winfield 
November 1, 1865 
S. J. Pinkerton 
September 3, 1819 

December 21, 1834 
Joseph Roberts 
January 14, 1845 
Wooten O’Neal 
July 19, 1832 
Vincent R. Thornton 
August 17, 1851 
I. A. Williams 
December 9, 1875 
N. M. Jones 
March 5, 1834 
Vincent R. Thornton 
May 20, 1852 
Hart C. Peek 
October 27, 1829 
H. Reid 
October 29, 1867 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
May 21, 1803 

Julv 13, 1865 
Jefferson F. Wright 
January 30, 1845 
E. C. I. B. Thomas 
January 27, 1842 
John L. Veazey 
March 30, 1841 
Frances Bowman 
March 8, 1827 
Absalom Baugh 
October 14, 1851 
I. A. Williams 


618 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


VEAZEY, Eli A. 

Josephine A. Jackson 

VEAZEY, Ezekiel 

Jean Parker 

VEAZEY, James 

Polly Morris 

VEAZEY, Jesse 

Ruth Veazey 

VEAZEY, Jesse 

Sarah Aikens 

VEAZEY, John 

Permelia Veazey 

VEAZEY, Timothy 

Martha Phillips 

VEAZEY, William C. 

Mary Ann Lucas 

VEAZEY, William D. 

Emaline Oliver 

VEAZEY, William D. 

Mary E. Jackson 

VEAZEY, William I. 

Tranquilla C. Parrott 

VELVIN, Thomas 

Nancy Coleman 

VENA.BLE, Robert A. 

Mildred A. Stovall 

VINCENT, Charles A. 

Susan A. Williams 

VINCENT, Sanford, Jr. 

Ann Broughton 

VINCENT, William 

Nancy Simonton 

VOUGHT, J. L. 

Adaline Walker 

WALDEN, Smith 

Elizabeth Whatley 

WALDEN, Towner 

Susannah Greer 

WALKER, Andrew 

Polly Graham 

WALKER, Edwin T. 

Josephine Alexander 

WALKER, Edwin T. 

Mary Lenora Fleetwood 
WALKER, Henry 

Vicey Phillips 

WALKER, Henry 

Mary Ann Hutcherson 
WALKER, James T. 

Ruthy A. Phillips 

WALKER, John 

Elizabeth Talley 

July 28, 1868 
Hart C. Peek 
August 21, 1814 
Wm. McGiboney 
December 12, 1811 
Jesse Mercer 
March 28, 1816 
William Cone 
February 13, 1823 
John Harris 
November 8, 1825 
John Harris 
October 25, 1821 
Thomas Johnson 
December 5, 1840 
John Veazey 
May 30, 1871 
Hart C. Peek 
May 30, 1871 
W. A. Overton 
September 11, 1853 
W. H. Blythe 
December 8, 1810 
Robert Dale 
January 7, 1873 
D. W. Elder, M. G. 

April 17, 1851 
Richard Lane, M. G. 
November 14, 1822 
A. H. Scott 
September 18, 1823 
Wm. McGiboney 
April 26, 1843 
James Rowland 
January 28, 1806 

November 26, 1804 

October 28, 1801 

December 10, 1868 
Thomas F. Pierce 
September 8, 1874 
J. L. Pierce, M. G. 
May 19, 1800 

April 24. 1828 
A. Ray, M. G. 
October 31, 1849 
R. F. Griffen 
May 10, 1805 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


619 


WALKER, John 
Betsy Murphey 
WALKER, John 
Elizabeth Brown 
WALKER, John E. 

Mary E. Gaston 
WALKER, Johnson 
Sarah Swindall 
WALKER, Mena M. 

Martha Anne Hardeman 
WALKER, Robert 

Frances A. E. Walker 
WALKER, Samuel R. 

Falby Moore 
WALKER, William 
Elizabeth Wynn 
WALKER, William 
Nancy Connell 
WALKER, William N. 

Mary L. Fillingim 
WALKER, William R. 

Martha T. Colquitt 
WALKER, Z. T. 

Fanny Ely 

WALKER, William T. 

Anna E. Tuggle 
WALL, Frank 

Catherine W. Culloch 
WALL, Richard W. 

Elizabeth Gilbert 
WALLACE, Aaron B. 

Elizabeth Wallace 
WALLACE, Augustus 
Rebecca Shill 
WALLACE, Bartley 
Susan Ann Parker 
WALLACE, B. G. 

Alice Cofer 

WALLACE, Woodford 
Martha Ann Crosley 
WALLER, Benjamin B. 

Louisa Turner 
WALLER, James 
Susan J. Epps 
WALLER, Thomas 
Rachael Blackman 
WALLER, William 
Sidney W. Tunnell 
WALLS, Jubal 

Nancy Forrester 
WARD, Austin 
Sarah Staples 


May 4, 1807 
James Holt 
March 13, 1823 
Lovick Pierce 
October 12, 1847 
J. L. Rowland 
November 30, 1815 
William Cone 
October 12, 1855 
B. R. Elder 
February 26, 1846 
R. C. Smith 
December 5, 1840 
E. P. Jarrell 
April 24, 1788 

January 26, 1803 

January 9, 1872 
Hart C. Peek 
January 8, 1833 
J. P. Leveritt 
December 18, 1873 
J. H. Kilpatrick 
December 23, 1856 
T. D. Martin, M. G. 
May 22, 1787 

December 23, 1830 
Augustine Greene 
December 18, 1860 
Elisha Elliot 
November 3, 1831 
J. P. Leveritt 
September 29, 1836 
James Moore 
January 16, 1875 
Henry Newton 
October 11, 1849 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 20, 1870 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 

April 8, 1849 
R. F. Griffen 
March 20, 1850 
Joseph W. Drennan 
April 9, 1867 
J. R. Young, M. G. 
September 16, 1828 
Robert Newsom 
November 21, 1852 
J. T. Finley 


620 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WARD, Eneas 

January 29, 1828 

Altetha Winfield 

William Bryan 

WARD, Enos Wesley 

September 25, 1825 

Elizabeth Smith 

WARD, Enos W. 

July 14, 1831 

Mary Rowlin 

William Rowland 

WARD, Enos W. 

August 13, 1836 

Louisa Rowland 

A. Hutcheson 

WARD, George 

March 10, 1857 

Frances C. Perdue 

J. S. K. Axson 

WARD, James S. 

February 17, 1824 

Milly Harp 

Butts L. Cato 

WARD, John 

February 14, 1828 

Carey Fambrough 

Joshua Cannon 

WARD, Joseph S. 

September 18, 1839 

Sarah Ann Bryant 

WARD, Richard , 

March 10, 1825 

Urethea White 

WARD, Stephen 

April 6, 1802 

Jane Wood 

WARD, Stephen 

February 13, 1822 

Jane Davis 

Lovick Pierce 

WARD, Wiley 

December 13, 1824 

Atherla L. R. Snow 

WARE, Edward H. 

November 27, 1873 

Mrs. Harriet M. Nichelson 

Eustace W. Speer 

WARE, Henry C. 

December 19, 1839 

Harriet Rainey 

Francis Bowman 

WARE, Hudson 

October 27, 1821 

Elizabeth Farrell 

WARE, James 

November 24, 1787 

Elizabeth Walker 

WARE, John 

August 13, 1819 

Patsy Peeler 

Thomas Riley 

WARE, Robert 

May 23, 1821 

Martha Norris 

Thomas Riley 

WARE, Thomas 

June 2, 1818 

Phoebe Peeler 

George Dillard 

WARE, William 

November 29, 1825 

Susan Perkins 

WARNER, Robert 

March 5, 1804 

Betsy Sims 

WARNER, William 

January 31, 1825 

Ann Watson 

WARREN, George W. 

October 27, 1838 

Emily Swindalle 

Robert T. Griffin 

WARREN, James R. 

May 18, 1834 

Burnetta Caldwell 

James Moore 

WARREN, Slady 

August 17, 1820 

Elizabeth Johnson 

John I. Beatee 

WASHAM, John 

October 30, 1806 

Sally Studman 

Isaac McClendon 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


621 


WATERS, Arthur 
Sally Sherrill, 

WATERS, Isaac 

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick 
WATERS, Matthew 
Stringfellow 
WATERS, James W. 

C. C. Gustavious 
WATKINS, George 
Polly Early 
WATKINS, John 

Elizabeth Atkinson 
WATKINS, Josiah 
Dicey Sropsheer 
WATKINS, William 
Polly Kennedy 
WATSON, Andrew Jackson 
Louisa Jane English 
WATSON, Briant 
Priscilla Perkins 
WATSON, Douglas C. 

Elba N. Stovall 
WATSON, Elias 
Arean M. Lellan 
WATSON, Jesse 
Amanda Jones 
WATSON, John 
Minerva Mabry 
WATSON, John A. 

Eliza Copeland 
WATSON, Marcus L. 

Emily Houghton 
WATSON, Nicholas A. 

Mary Harris 
WATSON, Solomon 
Nancy Akins 
WATSON, William 
Abagail Brewer 
WATSON, William 
Sarah Williams 
WATSON, William B. 

Lavina Catchings 
WATT, Hampton 

Amanda Davenport 
WATTS, Hardy K. 

Martha Bunch 
WATTS, Harrison 
Mary Daniel 
WATTS, Harrison H. 

Jane Forrester 
WATTS, Holton 
Selattia Smith 


December 16, 1799 

March 17, 1809 
William Johnson 
January 27, 1824 

January 8, 1787 

December 26, 1801 

September 18, 1816 
Robert Rea 
July 31, 1805 

October 31, 1811 
Wm. McGiboney 
November 26, 1840 

December 27, 1827 
John Harris 
November 1, 1832 
Thomas W. Grimes 
December 11, 1829 
John Harris 
March 21, 1847 
Vincent R. Thornton 
August 12, 1829 
George Hall 
May 10, 1833 
L. P. Leveritt 
July 20, 1854 
S. G. Hillyer 
April 1, 1852 
Hart C. Peek 
December 18, 1823 

March 5, 1806 

December 18, 1824 

December 5, 1871 
Q. L. Lupe, M. G. 
January 14, 1825 

December 10, 1834 
Bennet A. Ely 
November 2, 1824 

January 12, 1834 
Bennett Hillsmen 
July 22, 1805 


622 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WATTS, Jacoby 

Elizabeth Harrison 
WATTS, John R. 

Elizabeth T. Asbury 
WATTS, Joseph 
Eliza Jenkins 
WATTS, Lillte B. 

Nancy Whatley 
WATTS, Presley 
Abbey Andrews 
WATTS, Richard 
Martha Watts 
WATTS, Richard N. 

Mary S. Watts 
WATTS, William 
Nancy Williams 
WATTS, William H. 

Patsy Roberts 
WADDELL, Marshall 
Jane Payne 
WADDLE, Isaac W. 

Sarah R. Daniell 
WADE, James 

Mary Elizabeth Thompson 
WADE, John 
Aggie Peek 
WADE, John 
Anny Cook 
WADE, Joshua 
Nancy Tucker 
WAGGONER, Thomas 
Mary Ann Lawrence 
WAGGONER, William 
Elizabeth Finley 
WAGNON, Daniel M. 

Martha M. Swindelle 
WAGNON, Eugenius N. 

Mary E. Gantt 
WAGNON, George H. 

Susan F. Ruarks 
WAGNON, John P. 

Mary J. Moore 
WAGNON, Joshua H. 

Emily Southerland 
WAGNON, Pittman M. 

Frances A. Leveritt 
WAGNON, Thomas 
Harriet Houghton 
WAGNON, William S. 

Martha M. McLellan 
WATTS, William H. 

Mary Robinson 


February 24, 1804 

September 23, 1833 
Bennett Hillsman 
July 30, 1818 
John Willson 
February 21, 1801 

July 20, 1808 
John Cox 
October 27, 1839 
C. D. Kennebrew 
May 30, 1837 
Vincent R. Thornton 
September 21, 1845 
E. S. Hunter 
February 17, 1804 

January 18, 1825 

September 14, 1831 
Nathan Hoyt, M. G. 

June 26, 1840 
B. M. Sanders 
December 25, 1787 

May 31, 1822 
William Moore 
February 2, 1820 
William Cone 
December 13, 1846 
T. M. Fambrough 
November 12, 1818 
L. Bethune 
December 18, 1834 
A. Hutcheson 
January 25, 1866 
John W. Talley 
March 21, 1861 
Hinton Crawford 
December 1, 1848 
Vincent R. Thornton 
August 21, 1845 
Thomas H. Dawson 
February 1, 1865 
Lorenzo D. Carlton 
October 15, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 
July 5, 1860 
Hart C. Peek 
December 10, 1828 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


623 


WEATHERLY, John S. 

Rhoda Cheney 
WEATHERLY, William 
Frances Smith 
WEATHERS, Jesse 
Unity Johnson 
WEATHERS, John 
Polly Kelley 
WEAVER, Francis 
Priscilla Ely 
WEAVER, James M. 

Jane Amanda Harris 
WEAVER, John 

Elizabeth Harralson 
WEAVER, William M. 

Margaret Nickelson 
WEAVER, William 
Caroline M. Mango 
WEBB, John 

Jane Fambrough 
WEBB, John G. 

Lucy Clarke 
WEBB, Robert 
Polly Sorrell 
WEEKS, Samuel 
Anne Jackson 
WELBORN, William 

Martha Elizabeth Sanders 
WELBORN, Jonathon 
Rebekah Williams 
WELBOURN, Jeremiah 
Polly Morris 
WELBURN, James 

Mary Elizabeth Harris 
WELLS, George 
Polly Moore 
WELLS, John 

Emily J. Booles 
WEST, Edward 

Elizabeth Copelan 
WEST, Elijah 
Matilda Sorrell 
WEST, George 
Matilda Prior 
WEST, J. T. 

C. T. Horton 
WEST, Reuben S. 

Margaret Hogg 
WEST, Thomas J. 

Matilda Asbury 
WEST, Warren 
Betsy Whaley 


March 18, 1861 
P. H. Mell 
November 28, 1818 

July 18, 1815 
Robert Rea 
November 17, 1808 
James Holt 
April 15, 1847 
John Harris 
December 28, 1847 
S. G. Hillyer 
February 6, 1812 
A. Veazey 
March 14, 1860 
George F. Pierce 
April 8, 1824 
Lovick Pierce 
August 10, 1859 
James H. Wragg 
February 28, 1827 

February 10, 1812 
Thomas Rhodes 
September 5, 1788 

October 12, 1842 

May 18, 1806 
John Robinson 
December 13, 1824 
George Johnson 
April 12, 1832 
R. L. Dickerson 
February 27, 1823 
Lovick Pierce 
May 15, 1826 

August 18, 1801 

February 4, 1808 
William Browning 
November 4, 1830 
Jonathon Davis 
December 24, 1872 
J. T. Wood 
October 27, 1842 
N. M. Lumpkin 
November 25, 1841 
W. H. Stocks 
February 4, 1803 
'Vi rt: 


624 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WEST, William 
Sarah Butts 
WEST, William E. 

Lizzie Moncrief 
WEST, William M. 

Harriett Brooks 
WESTBROOKS, Allin 
Frances Huff 
WESTBROOKS, Thomas 
Aley Ball 

WESTBROOKS, William 
Susanna Lee 
WESTER, Edward 
Elizabeth Yancey 
WESTER, John 
Anne Wester 
WHALEY, Burwell 
Polly Whitlock 
WHATLEY, Edward 
Elizabeth Caldwell 
WHATLEY, James 
Nancy Lake 
WHALEY, Thomas 
Mary Smith 
WHATLEY, Floyd 
Alsay Hunt 
WHATLEY, John 
Polly Blanks 
WHATLEY, John 
Patsy Bowles 
WHATLEY, Michael 
Elizabeth Peoples 
WHATLEY, Robert 
Polly Swann 

WHATLEY, Thomas W. 

Julia Davis 
WHATLEY, Wyatt 
Elizabeth Wright 
WHEALY, John 
Mary Porter 
WHEAT, Jonathan 
Mary Ann Horn 
WHEAT, Jonathon 
Elizabeth Merritt 
WHEELAS, Hardy 
Hannah Rimes 
WHEELAS, Joab 
Jane Spradling 
WHEELER, Avery 

Rebeccah Cunningham 
WHEELER, Elijah 
Elizabeth Jackson 


August 22, 1827 

November 7, 1875 
John R. Young 
December 12, 1844 
Samuel Ely 
October 20, 1818 

December 7, 1819 

February 5, 1816 
Richard Baugh 
November 17, 1804 

January 20, 1803 

March 14, 1803 

August 20, 1803 

October 11, 1803 

October 21, 1828 
Jos. Roberts, M. G. 
December 16, 1823 
Robert Newsome 
June 24, 1803 

January 28, 1806 

August 26, 1799 

July 10, 1808 
George Tuggle 
November 8, 1853 
E. L. Whatley, M. G. 
January 11, 1800 

March 17, 1789 

November 29, 1838 
Thomas Stocks 
January 21, 1847 
R. F. Griffen 
June 12, 1806 
J. Mapp 
August 20, 1807 
James Holt 
October 10, 1804 

August 25, 1800 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


625 


WHEELER, Lawrence F. 

Mary Anne Watkins 
WHEELOUS, William 

Arry Fambrough 

WHETSONE, John A. 

Ann C. Banks 

WHITAKER, William 

Mrs. L. D. Florence 

WHITE, Andrew 

Mary Smith 

WHITE, Coleman 

Ann Allen 

WHITE, David M. 

Nancy Woodard 

WHITE, D. A. 

Rebecca Reynolds 

WHITE, Edmund 

Sarah Rea 

WHITE, James T. 

Sarah Tolly 

WHITE, James 

Caroline Gatlin 

WHITE, John 

Lucy Jones 

WHITE, Reuben 

Nancy Hines 

WHITE, Samuel 

Sarah Nelson 

WHITE, Wiley M. 

Mary S. Moore 

WHITE, William 

Anna Maddox 

WHITE, William H. 

Jane S. McIntyre 

WHITE, William H. 

Permelia Baldwin 

WHITE, William 

Georgia Anna Daniel 
WHITEHEAD, John W. 

Inez English 

WHITELY, Richard Henry 
Margaret Eliza Divine 
WHITESIDE, Andrew J. 

Mary Ann Greer 

WHITFIELD, Ivy I. 

Susan P. Ramsey 

WHITFIELD, James A. 

Mary E. Shipp 

WHITLAW, James H. 

Anna A. Broach 

WHITLOCK, William A. 

Louisa Emily Johnson 

December 16, 1841 
N. H. Hill 
January 16, 1859 
W. A. Partee 
January 8, 1827 

March 20, 1873 
W. A. Florence 
December 10, 1803 

August 29, 1821 
A. Hutchinson 
December 6, 1842 
John L. Veazey 
December 24, 1848 
W. H. C. Cone 
April 19, 1827 
John Armstrong 
July 23, 1823 
John H. Harvey 
January 26, 1837 
James W. Godkin 
November 24, 1803 

January 5, 1802 

June 20, 1822 
Thomas Johnson 
November 28, 1853 
George Heard 
April 24, 1806 
Ewing Morrow 
December 9, 1823 
Francis Cummins 
June 27, 1826 

October 2, 1863 
James W. Godkin 
December 22, 1874 
W. A. Cheney 
November 29, 1849 
William Bryan 
May 12, 1848 

November 3, 1850 
J. T. Findley 
December 13, 1866 
Hart C. Peek 
December 25, 1859 
James Davison 
April 3, 
Vincent R. Thornton 


626 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WIGGINS, Benjamin 
Sara Ann Rhodes 
WIGGINS, John 
Nancy Hall 

WIGGINS, Whittenton 
Nancy Atkins 
WIGGINS, William 
Sarah Lawrence 
WHEDFORD, Walter 
Nancy Hester 
WILKERSON, Dempsey 
Lydia Bishop 
WILKINS, John 
Cynthia Lanier 
WILKINS, John 
Lucy Thompson 
WILKINSON, Abner 
Ami Mathews 
WILKINSON, Henry 
Maria Towers 
WILKS, John A. 

Rebecca Jackson 
WILLIAMS, Albert 
Julia Ann Linch 
WILLIAMS, Anderson 
Martha Lancastor 
WILLIAMS, Benjamin 
Anna B. Billingslea 
WILLIAMS, Crawford 
Mahala Frances Wade 
WILLIAMS, David 
Elizabeth Scott 
WILLIAMS, Ed. G. 

Kate M. Pierce 
WILLIAMS, Elisha 
Mary Phillips 
WILLIAMS, Ezekiel 
Cynthia Swann 
WILLIAMS, Ezekiel S. 

Emma L. Parrott 
WILLIAMS, Francis Key 
S. A. McLellan 
WILLIAMS, Frederick H. 

Nancy Daniels 
WILLIAMS, Henry P. 

Mildred J. P. Burk 
WILLIAMS, Henry P. 

Eliza J. Alfriend 
WILLIAMS, Isaac 
Emily Atkinson 
WILLIAMS, Isaac 
Almira A. Bowden 


February 28, 1845 

June 29, 1815 
John Browning 
November 29, 1830 

February 20, 1789 

March 22, 1802 

January 21, 1807 
Thomas Crawford 
January 16, 1816 
John Armor 
May 4, 1820 
George Watkins 
December, 1803 

September 17, 1822 
Francis Cummins 
December 19, 1852 
J. T. Findley 
February 13, 1866 
Jefferson F. Wright 
December 17, 1835 
James W. Godkin 
February 18, 1868 
James L. Pierce 
December 18, 1839 
James M. Davidson 
September 17, 1850 

January 19, 1871 
George W. Pierce 
October 21, 1827 
Abraham Yeats 
December 17, 1818 

January 10, 1867 
William Bryan 
April 13, 1856 
Hart C. Peek, M. G. 
January 8, 1815 
Jesse Mercer 
October 18, 1865 
N. M. Crawford, M. G. 
December 18, 1873 
W. H. Blythe 
February 7, 1836 
A. Hutcheson 
April 28, 1842 
James Jones, M. G. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


627 


WILLIAMS, Isaac 
Sarah Andrews 
WILLIAMS, Isaac 
Ella Dora Bruce 
WILLIAMS, James 
Susan A. Copelan 
WILLIAMS, James B. 

Nancy V. Terrell 
WILLIAMS, James D. 

Matilda Goodroe 
WILLIAMS, Jesse 

Elizabeth McMichael 
WILLIAMS, Jo 
Polly Boon 
WILLIAMS, John 
Anne Wade 
WILLIAMS, John 
Delpha Watkins 
WILLIAMS, Jonathan 
Rebecca Williams 
WILLIAMS, Joseph 
Mary Boon 

WILLIAMS, Littleberry 
Amanda Cato 
WILLIAMS, Orrin 
Rebekah Stephens 
WILLIAMS, Patrick 
Ariam Ingram 
WILLIAMS, Peter 
Lucindia Park 
WILLIAMS, Pleasant 
Harriet Perkins 
WILLIAMS, Poleman 
Nancy May 

WILLIAMS, Richard S. 

Emma J. West 
WILLIAMS, Robert 
Rebekah Whatley 
WILLIAMS, Robert B. 

Georgia Ann Fisher 
WILLIAMS, James 
Nancy Dingier 
WILLIAMS, Thomas 
Edney Scroggins 
WILLIAMS, William 
Elizabeth Atkinson 
WILLIAMS, William 
Louise R. Parrott 
WILLIAMS, William A, Jr. 

Martha A. Robinson 
WILLIAMS, William B. 
Susan Ann M. Bruce 


January 30, 1869 

December 21, 1869 
W. H. Blythe, M. G. 
October 24, 1847 
John C. Lucas 
April 6, 1841 
Vincent R. Thornton 
September 10, 1871 
Rev. J. S. Patten 
June 4, 1826 

November 26, 1804 

November 10, 1788 

November 21, 1803 

May 18, 1808 
John Robertson 
June 10, 1804 
Thomas Crawford 
May 1, 1827 

August 19, 1808 
Stephen Gatlin 
November 15, 1832 
Thomas I. Park 
February 3, 1818 
Lovick Pierce 
June 5, 1856 
B. R. Elder 
May 7, 1846 
E. S. Hunter 
March 5, 1860 
Thomas B. Cooper 
January 9, 1800 

September 23, 1869 
James W. Godkin 
May 1, 1827 
E. Tally 
June 12, 1822 
Robert Newsome 
April 9, 1829 
William Bryan 
August 8, 1847 
Ephraim Bruce 
January 22, 1854 
J. R. Hall 
February 25, 1869 
Joseph R. Parker 


628 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WILLIAMS, William N. 

Nancy Baldwin 
WILLIAMS, William T. J. 

Rhodice Ann Crossley 
WILLIAMS, Willis 
Jane F. Booles 
WILLIAMS, Wilson 
Sarah Kimbrough 
WILLEY, James H. 

Julia Foster 
WILLIS, Alfred L. 

Florida C. Duncan 
WILLIS, Eugene L. 

Serepta A. Hackney 
WILLIS, James 

Margaret Ann Chew 
WILLIS, London 

Priscilla Thompson 
WILLIS, London 
Sarah D. Ferrel 
WILLIS, Richard 
Sarah Foster 
WILLIS, Robert 
Lucy Baugh 
WILLIS, Washington 
Susan Martin 

WILLOUGHBY, William R. 

Sarah N. Ray 
WILLSON, James 
Phebe White 
WILLSON, Joshua 
Cumfort Knowles 
WILLSON, Larkin 
Polly Cabiness 
WILSON, A. A. 

Ann Nailes 
WILSON, George S. 

Mary F. Lankford 
WILSON, James 
Nancy Heard 
WILSON, James 

Mary Ann McAuly 
WILSON, James L. 

Emma Lankford 
WILSON, Jesse P. 

Cornelia C. Wright 
WILSON, John L. 

Mary Jane Harris 
WILSON, John M. 

Mrs. Talitha J. Jackson 
WILSON, John R. 

Martha A. Gentry 


January 11, 1843 
Thomas Stocks 
December 30, 1860 
J. M. Kelly 
February 17, 1848 
B. M. Sanders 
July 8, 1820 

April 29, 1841 
George Pierce 
June 2, 1866 
J. P. Duncan 
January 29, 1865 
John R. Young, M. G. 
February 13, 1834 
Thomas Stocks 
May 27, 1813 
Sol Lockett 
September 30, 1819 
Jesse Mercer 
January 25, 1848 
Thomas Stocks 
June 13, 1820 
Lovick Pierce 
November 14, 1825 

October 21, 1856 
John W. M. Barton 
June 2, 1789 

April 8, 1807 
W. M. Johnson 
December 22, 1803 

January 6, 1876 
John T. Dolvin 
January 8, 1874 
John F. Dolvin 
January 4, 1826 

November 26, 1835 

May 22, 1870 
W. A. Colclough 
October 30, 1860 
Homer Hendee, M. G. 
August 21, 1839 

September 10, 1874 
J. L. Pierce, M. G. 
January 12, 1858 
W. W. Moore 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


629 


WILSON, John T. 

Naomi Gilmer 
WILSON, Joseph P. 

Caroline L. Whetstone 
WILSON, Lewis 
Eliza T. Kittrell 
WILSON, P. F. 

Julia Ann Fambro 
WILSON, Samuel G. 

Sarah N. Poullain 
WILSON, Thomas B. 

Ellen A. Durham 
WILSON, William 
Elizabeth Jones 
WILSON, William 
Arenath Pullen 
WILSON, William 

Mrs. Caroline Durke 
WILSON, William A. 

Mary T. Lankford 
WILSON, William W. 

Lucy Perkins 
WILSON, Willis 
Carrie F. Morris 
WINFIELD, James 
Frances Duncan 
WINFIELD, James 
Mary Gooch 
WINFIELD, James 
Claudia Jackson 
WINFIELD* John 
Barsheba Wade 
WINFIELD, Matthew 
Rebecca Wade 
WINGFIELD, Alfred 
Frances Cunningham 
WINGFIELD, Junius A. 

Mary T. Mosely 
WINFREY, H. L. 

Lydia L. Greer 
WINN, J. H. 

Nettie V. Smith 
WINN, Thomas 
Nancy Greer 
WINN, Thomas E. 

Sophia I. Park 
WINNINGHAM, Jarrett 
Lukey Woods 
WINSLETT, I. I. 

Mary A. E. Bickers 
WINSLETT, Jonathon 
Geliy D. Bagley 


March 7, 1852 
B. Rowland 
June 3, 1862 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
February 9, 1841 
Thomas Stocks 
December 29, 1844 
John Zuber 
January 6, 1875 
G. N. Pierce, M. G. 
September 8, 1872 
W. A. Overton 
January 6, 1789 

March 1, 1825 

March 3, 1859 
George C. Clarke 
January 2, 1867 
Lucius C. Broome 
August 6, 1834 
James Moore 
June 20, 1875 
James A. Thornton 
July 20, 1826 

May 18, 1828 
Robert Burdell 
February 7, 1856 
N. M. Crawford 
December 21, 1817 
Lauchlien Bethune 
November 26, 1828 
Robert Burdell 
October 1, 1845 
Francis Bowman 
November 9, 1836 
Thomas M. Grimes 
September 13, 1868 
P. H. Mell, M. G. 
November 22, 1870 
John M. Loury 
December 23, 1819 
James Brockman 
December 13, 1865 
Thos. F. Pierce 
July 18, 1801 

August 31, 1851 
A. T. N. Vandivers 
June 11, 1818 
R. White 


630 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WINSLETT, L. B. 

December 14, 1871 

Mary N. Copelan 

James W. Godkin 

WINSLETT, Richard 

March 5, 1815 

Perthene Bagley 

Thomas Bush 

WINSLETT, William 

September 14, 1799 

Elizabeth Harp 


WINSLETT, William 

June 13, 1801 

Peggy Woods 


WINSLETT, William 

May 3, 1831 

Eliza B. Copeland 

Thomas W. Grimes 

WINTER, Albert H. 

February 26, 1874 

Dora Tunnell 

Albert Cray 

WINTER, D. Henry 

December 15, 1850 

Nancy Carlton 

James M. Davison 

WINTER, D. Henry 

October 16, 1859 

Lucy Ann Grier 

James Davison 

WIRSLEY, John 

June 13, 1807 

Sarah Hammons 

J. Bethune 

WOMACK, Manul 

September 11, 1790 

Sarah Rogers 

WOOD, Aristarchus 

January 14, 1799 

Fanney Newton 

WOOD, Elial 

June 21, 1827 

Martha Bunn 

N. Talley 

WOOD, Etheldred 

June 10, 1790 

Dicey Bagby 

WOOD, James 

February 8, 1802 

Isabellah Patrick 

WOOD, John 

April 2, 1807 

Sally Reid 

Adam Hays 

WOOD, John 

May 30, 1854 

Elizabeth Saxon 

A. L. Willis 

WOOD, John C. 

June 3, 1856 

Nancy F. Greene 

J. S. R. Axon 

WOOD, John Henry 

May 4, 1854 

Harriet C. B. Crawford 

J. W. Yarbrough 

WOOD, Richard 

April 21, 1790 

Tabitha Glass 

WOOD, Taylor 

December 5, 1872 

Mary Burger 

W. A. Partee 

WOOD, Thomas 

March 28, 1810 

Polly Hill 

W. Johnson 

WOOD, William T. 

October 18, 1858 

Ugenia J. Talley 

Robert F. Griffen 

WOODALL, Jamie 

May 15, 1801 

Beckey Watson 

WOODALL, June Martin 

June 18, 1803 

Polly Lacey 

WOODALL, Michael 

August 11, 1790 

Betsy Bird 

WOODARD, Jonathan 

January 16, 1825 

Elizabeth Brunt 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


631 


WOODJIN, William G. 

Helen James 
WOODHAM, Everett 
Harriett Phillips 
WOODHAM, James 
Peggy Peek 
WOODHAM, John E. 

Miriam J. Callahan 
WOODS, Cyrus 
Frances Pinkard 
WOODS, Matthew 
Myrum Woods 
WOOTEN, James 

Elizabeth Lawrence 
WOOTEN, John 
Polly Beavers 
WORTHY, Zachariah P. 

Emily Caldwell 
WRAY, Pleasant J. 

Mrs. Rebecca Bagby 
WRAY, Sylvanus 

Mrs. Rebeccah Ogletree 
WRAY, William T. 

Mrs. Martha G. Edmondson 
WRIGHT, Christopher C. 

Rebecca B. Moore 
WRIGHT, Jacob T. 

Eliza W. Few 
WRIGHT, James A. 

Scott Branch 

WRIGHT, James Osborn 
Alice E. Reynolds 
WRIGHT, Jefferson 
Louisa Kimbrough 
WRIGHT, John 
Nancy Jones 
WRIGHT, John 
Celia Rowland 
WRIGHT, John 

Frances Bowden 
WRIGHT, John E. 

Sarah H. Bickers 
WRIGHT, John W. 

Sarah Lewis 
WRIGHT, Joseph 
Mary Ann Stark 
WRIGHT, J. F. 

L. A. Burk 

WRIGHT, Lorenzo D. 

Mary Lewis 
WRIGHT, Nathaniel 
Eliza M. Ross 


July 21, 1860 

January 25, 1821 
Lovick Pierce 
April 21, 1814 
John Turner 
March 31, 1839 
William Bryan 
, June 24, 1823 
Aug. B. Longstreet 
January 19, 1826 
William L. Asten, J. P. 

April 6, 1789 

June 22, 1801 

May 9, 1839 
James M. Davison 
November 10, 1864 
W. A. Partee 
December 20, 1864 
W. A. Partee 
December 20, 1864 
W. A. Partee 
May 13, 1838 
James M. Porter 
May 7, 1838 
James Madison Porter 
October 23, 1875 
W. H. Laprade 
June 24, 1866 
Thos. F. Pierce 
April 29, 1849 
J. C. Eimmons 
December 18, 1804 

January 11, 1825 
E. Tally 
November 23, 1868 

April 9, 1839 
Thomas Stocks 
May 31, 1855 
J. S. Williams 
December 11, 1817 
John Browning 
October 29, 1846 
William I. Parks 
January 11, 1866 
Jefferson F. Wright 
January 12, 1852 
A. L. Willis 


632 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


WRIGHT, Redock T. 

Merium Malory 
WRIGHT, Reuben 
Jane Hays 
WRIGHT, Reuben 
Mary Conner 
WRIGHT, Robert 
Margaret Bledsoe 
WRIGHT, Samuel 

Frances Julian Perkins 
WRIGHT, Thomas 
Nancy Tucker 
WRIGHT, Wiley 
Sarah Lewis 
WRIGHT, William 
Rhoda Cummings 
WRIGHT, William 
Maria Brunt 
WRIGHT, William 
Hannah Orr 
WRIGHT, William 
Susan Mapp 
WRIGHT, William 
Eleanor Johnson 
WRIGHT, William H. 

Sarah Isadora Colclough 
WRIGHT, Willis 

Sarah T. Ketterall 
WRIGHT, Lachaeus 
Asentha Lewis 
WYNN, John 

Martha H. Smith 
WYNN, R. I. 

Sarah M. Rawls 
WYNN, Samuel H. 

Mary E. Sidwell 


November 16, 1832 
Thomas W. Grimes 
July 3, 1827 
Robert W. Bardell 
December 4, 1829 
Anderson Ray, M. G. 

May 31, 1808 
William Browning 
December 1, 1835 
Wesley P. Arnold 
February 14, 1823 

April 28, 1821 
Robert Flourney 
January 11, 1816 
C. Maddox 
October 12, 1831 
L. P. Leveritt 
June 7, 1844 
James Moore 
August 13, 1844 
J. J. Howell 
April 17, 1846 
James W. Godkin 
December 22, 1858 
L. B. Jackson 
December 9, 1833 
A. Hutcheson 
November 19, 1820 
John Harris 
January 27, 1842 
James W. Godkin 
January 28, 1841 
James W. Godkin 
May 29, 1856 


CHAPTER XV 


OFFICERS OF GREENE COUNTY 


1868-1870 


Stovall, Wm. H. 

Notary Public 


Hutcherson, Thos. S. 

Griffin, James M. 


Sanders, C. M. 

Davidson, James 


Bowden, Elliott C. 

Thornton, J. F. 


Swan, John W. 

Corray, W. A. 


Crawford, Josias H. 

Caldwell, L. D. 


Willis, W. B. 

Winfield, J. W. 


Wynn, John H. 

Swan, J. W. 


Park, Jas. B. 

Copeland, Baldwin 


Turner, Jared L. 

McWhorter, Fred 


Jones James J. 

Brinberry, W. H. 


Goster, Waddy 

Colclough, W. A. 


Sullivan, John H. 

Jones, S. W. 

Kelly, James 


Thornton, Jas. A. 

: Ti': 

Credille, Reubin, S. 

Hutchinson, T. S. 


Wiley, B. McRae 

Wright, W. H. 


Weaver, William M. 
Davison, Chas. C. 

1868-1872 


Brightwell, Augustus 

Griffin, James M. 


Maxey, George W. 

Davison, James 


Park, Thos. J. 

Thornton, J. F. 


Bugg, Wm, B. 

Corray, W. A. 


Jackson, A. J. S. 

Caldwell, L. D. 


Griffin, Jas. M. 

Winfield, J. W. 


Davison, Chars. C. 

Swan, J. W. 


Thornton, Jas. A. 

Copeland, Baldwin 


O’Neal, John 

McWhorter. Fred 


Caldwell, L. D. 

Brimberry, W. H. 


Weaver, Wm. W. 

Colcough, W. A. 


Swan, John. W. 

Jones, S. W. 


McRee, W. B. 

Jones, James T. 


Sanders, C. M. 

Kelly, James M. 


Foster, W. T. 

Hutchinson, T. S. 


Jones, James J. 

Wright, W. H. 


Park, Thos. J. 

Godkin, Jas. W. 


Credille, Reubin A. 

Brightwell, A. T. 


Jackson, A. J. S. 

Winfield, Jas. W. 


Bugg, Wm. B. 

O’Neal, John 


Sanders, D. H. 

Caldwell, L. D. 


Tuggle, Wm. L. 

Davison, James 


McWhorter, Wm. H. 

Griffin, Tas. M. 


Colcough, Wm. A. 

Miller, Thos. S. 


Moss, Peter M. 

Stovall, Wm. H. 


Griffin, John A. 

Hutcherson, Thos. S. 


Eason, T. T. 

Fluker, Oscar E. 

1872-1880 


Wheeler, James R. 

Winfield, J. W. 


Hutcherson, Toliver S. 

O’Neal, John 


Griffin, John A. 

Caldwell, L. D. 


Cochran, Aug. P. 

Davison, Jas. 

- 77 

Daniel, Wm. G. 

Griffin, Jas. M. 


Credille, Reubin A. 

Miller, Thos S. 


Colcough, Wm. A. 


633 




634 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


1880-1893 

Kimbrough, J. P. 
Reynolds, Wm. C. 
Hart, Jas. F. 

Colcough, John M. 
Davis, G. C. 

Eason, T. T. 

Winter, A. H. 

King, Hugh M. 
Bowles, John H. 
Stowall, Wm. H. 
Colough, Wm. A. 
Jones, C. F. 

Colough, John M. 
Hart, J. F. 

Colcough, W. R. 
Kimbrough, J. P. 
Credille, R. A. 
Hutchinson, Toliver S. 
Jones, J. J. 

Smith, W. E. 

Parker, J. R. 
McWhorter, J. H. 
Davison, C. C. 

Purk, Wm. 

Walker, Z. T. 

Willis, J. B. 

Cochran, A. P. 

Jones, Jas. J. 
Crutchfield, J. W. 
Winter, A. H. 

Willis, L. B. 

Jones, Sing 
Bowles, John H. 

King, H. M. 

Tuggle, G. H. 

Foster, W. T. 

O’Neal, John 
Jackson, G. A. 

Perdue, L. C. 

Perkins, H. T. 

Janes, C. P. 

Smith, L. P. 

Nickelson, W. M. 
Davis, W. S. 
McWhorter, J. N. 
Sanders, J. J. 

Credille, R. A. 
Davison, C. C. 

Purk, W. A. 

Park, C. J. 

Crutchfield, J. W. 
1893-1903 

Beaz’ley, Walter A. 
Stovall, W. H. 
Bowles, J. H. 

King, Hugh M. 

Smith, Henry W. 


Wood, J. H. 
Smith, L. P. 

King, J. R. 
Davison, C. C. 
Purk, W. A. 
Perkins, J. N. 
Nickelson, W. M. 
Powell, E. S. 
Smith, L. P. 
Crutchfield, J. W. 
Fluker, P. A. 
Willis, L. B. 

Park, C. J. 
Venable, John W. 
Tuggle, G. H. 
Wood, Henry J. 
Smith, Henry W. 
Freeman, W. H. 
Perkins, H. T. 
Finch, J. J. 

Wray, Sylvanus 
Veasey, C. S. 
Credille, W. H. 
Reynolds, J. L. 
Maxey, R. A. 
Powell, E. S. 
Bishop, M. B. 
Wright, W. H. 
Launius, J. J. 
Fluker, P. A. 
Davison, C. C. 
Purks, W. A. 
Smith, L. P. 

Park C T 
Adderhoid, J. H. 
Tuggle, G. H. 
Wood, J. H. 
Freeman, W. H. 
More, George W. 
Maddox, J. H. 
Pyron, W. H. 
Dickerson, A. A. 
Evans, H. T. 
Ternigan, H. W. 
Hoard, P. K. 
Powell, E. S. 
Fluker, P. A. 
Davison, C. C. 
Punks, W. A. 
Smith, L. P. 
Park, C. J. 

Moore, Warren 
Stovall, L. P. 
Winfield, Jas. W. 
O’Neal, John 
Caldwell, L. B. 
Davison, James 
Griffin, Jas. M. 
Miller, Thos. S. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


635 


Stovall, Wm. H. 
Hutcherson, Thos. S. 

1904 

Caldwell, E. W. 
Powell, E. S. 
Freeman, W. H. 
Nash, Walter A. 
Dreyer, C. E. 
Davison, J. E. 

Veazy, J. A. 

Smith, J. C. 

Evans, H. T. 

Maddox, J. H. 
Jernigan, H. W. 
1908-1919 
Burgess, J. T. 

Smith, L. P. 

Park, C. J. 

Maddox, J. A. 

Mann, W. S. 
Durham, J. C. 

Smith, E. R. 

Copelan, J. F. 

Nash, W. R. 

Davison, J. E. 

Veazy, J. A. 

Davison, D. 

Caldwell, Edwood 
Evans, H. T. 

Godfrey, Pope 
Moon, G. W. 

Wright, W. H. 
Copelan, B. C. 
Dreyer, C. E. 

Sorrow, Ed 
Dreyer, C. E. 

Smith, E. R. 
Stapleton, R. E. 
Simpson, J. A. 

Smith, Jas. L. 

Fluker, O. E. 
Davison, J. E. 

Fisher, Wm. H. 
Ward, J. W. 

Dreyer, C. E. 
Caldwell, Edward 
Boyd, W. B. 

Maddox, J. A. 
Hopkins, W. E. 
Sorrow, Ed 
Wagnon, B. E. 
Copelan, B. C. 
Gresham, S. S. 
Crumbley, C. G. 
Smith, E. R. 

Gentrey, John D. 
Kimbrough, J. L. 


Stapleton, R. E. 
Weaver, W. B. 
Waddell, C. M. 
Minish, D. L. 
Branch, L. H. 

Justices of Peace 

1799-1829 

Greer, William 
Engilsh, Henry 
Roberts, Daniel 
Daniel, Jas. C. 
Ross, Adam 
Love, Robertus 
Armour, John 
Smith, Charles 
Tuggle, George 
Newsom, Joel 
Dixon, William 
Morrow, Ewen 
Flournoy, Francis 
Kennedy, Fields 
Sparks, Thos. 
Stephens, William 
Porter, Oliver 
Daniel, Jas. K. 
Stovall, George 
Holt, James 
Watson, Douglas 
Mapp, John 
Johnson, Wm. 
Browning, Wm. 
Harris, Sampson 
Gatlin, Stephen 
Tanning, Joseph D. 
Owens, George 
Tuggle, Thos. 
Biddle, Abner 
Randell, Wm. 

Cato, Wyche 
McGibbony, John 
Maddox, Clayborn 
Watson, Wm. 

Hays, Henry 
Gatlin, Robert 
Cox, John 
Love, Robartus 
McGibbony, Wm. 
Martin, Francis 
Bethune, John 
Boykin, Francis 
Ray, Robert 
Robinson, Wm. D. 
Watson, William 
Feary, James 
Watts, Saulsburry 
Robbins, Elisha 


636 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Early, Jeremiah 
Boren, Joseph 
Ranson, Reubin 
Torrence, Ebenezer 
Greene, Lemuel 
Murden, Mallerick 
Turner, John 
Robbins, John 
Gresham, Littleberry 
Crawford, Bennett 
Davenport, Henry 
Bishop, Asa 
Stocks, Thomas 
Cone, William 
Lewis, Walker 
Fannin, James 
Riley, Thomas 
Dale, Robert 
Johnson, Thos. 
Foster, Arthur 
Watts, Jacobus 
Johnson, Alex 
Baldwin, James 
Veazey, Abner 
Turner, John 
Myrick, Evans 
Riley, Thomas 
Martin, F. 
McClendon, J. M. 
Love, Robert 
Tuggle, George 
Morrow, E. 

Mapp, J. 

Boyakin, F. 

Holt, J. 

Early, J. 

Stovall, G. 

Watts, L. B. 
Browning, W. 
Bethune, J. 

Torrence, J. 

Boren, Joseph 
Robbins, John 
Hays, Henry 
Greer, Robert 
Robertson, Wm. H. 
Cox, John 
Feary, James 
Turner, John 
Greer, Wm. 

Riley, Thos. 

Tuggle, Thomas 
Robbins, Elijah 
Bethune, Laughlin 
Moore, Robert 
Browning, John 
Garrett, John 
Beall, Elisas 


Coleman, Eden 
Armour, William 

1813-1829 

Riley, John 
Johnson, Thos. 
King, Edwin D. 
Simmons, John 
Armor, John 
Coleman, Eden 
McGibbony, Wm. 
Moore, Isaac 
Fannin, James 
Moore, Gillah 
Baldwin, Jas. 

Cato, Phillips 
Rea, Robert 
Turner, John 
Beall, Elias 
Greene, Lemuel 
Moore, Robert 
Murdin, Malachi 
Watts, Archibald 
Watson, Douglas 
Martin, James 
Bethune, Lauchlin 
Stocks, Thomas 
Bledsoe, Aaron 
Johnson, Alex 
Boner, W. H. 
Greer, Abram 
Browning, John 
Stovall, George 
Moore, Jeremiah 
Riley, Thomas 
Armour, William 
Myrick, Evans 
Owen, George 
Lyne, Thomas 
Maddox, Claiborne 
Cone, William 
Myrick, Robert 
Bush, Thomas M. 
Lewis, Walker 
Greer, Robert 
Laurence, Seaborn 
Wilson, John 
Snow, Thomas 
Price, Ephrain 
Ray, Henry 
Garrot, John 
Moore, Isaac 
West, Francis 
Crawford, Hardy 
Harris, John N. 
Watts, John H. 
Moore, Burnett 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


637 


Sanford, Vincent 
Wittich, Ernest C. 
Holt, James 

1829-1849 

Moore, James 
Wright, Zachaus 
Park, John 
Walker, Wm. F. 
Cato, Butt L. 
Copeland, John 
Daniel, Wm. 

Watts, Harris H. 
Newsome, Robert 
Greene, Augustin 
Perkins, Abraham 
Johnson, P. C. 
Fauche, Jonas 
Chew, John 
Winfield, Wm. 
Burdell, R. W. 
Gresham, Young F. 
Moncrief, William 
Hall, John C. 

Burton, James M. 
Wilson, John 
Janes, Wm. 

Bryan, Wm. 

Bruce, Ephraim 
Rowland, Wm. 
McMichael, Seaborn 
Yeats, Abraham 
Armstrong, John 
Palmer, Amasa 
Hall, George 
Harris, John N. 
Dickerson, Jones 
Martin, Benjamin F. 
Winfield, Matthew 
Tyron, Lewis 
Parker, Thos. J. 
Williams, Littleberry 
Cannor, Joshua 
O’Neal, Wooten 
Norwood, M. James 
Ward, James 
Thomas, William 
Walker, Matthew 
Cartwright, Samuel 
Jackson, Albert R. 
Cato, Butt L. 
Copeland, John 
Moore, James 
Norwood, James M. 
Fauche, Jonas 
Godkin, Jas. W. 
Lawrence, Heartwell 
Jackson, Albert R. 


West, Geo. W. 
Wilson, John 
Bruce, Ephriam 
Bryan, Walker 
Walker, Matthew 
Roland, Wm. 

Davis, J. J. 

Ransom, James 
Bennett, Eley H. 
Holtzclaw, John G. 
Terrell, Henry 
Crawford, Hinton 
Taylor, Jas. 

Gaston, Matthew 
Yeats, Abram 
Hobbs, Nathan 
Perkins, Abraham 
Gatlin, Garrett 
Greene, Augustin 
Watson, Jesse H. 
Gresham, Young F. 
Grice, Wm. H. 
Watts, Hampton 
Thompson, Samuel 
McCant, Wm. D. 
Ray, John H. 

Park, John 
Anderson, James 
Baugh, John A. 
Mitchell, Jas. L. 
Warnocke, John P. 
Pullin, Wm. S. 
Jarrell, Elisha P. 
Winfield, Matthew 
McCowen, Thos. 
Oliver, Matthew 
Bishop, Wilson L. 
Ward, John 
English, Henry 
Daniel, John 
Holmes, Geo. P. 
Tuggle, Wm. 
Asbury, Jesse 
Parker, Lewis 
Peek, Littleberry 
Young, Milas 
Crawford, Joel T. 
Hudson, John 
Martin, Benjamin F. 
Price, W. H. 

Daniel, John C. 
Bruce, Ephraim 
Oliver, Matthew 
Griffin, Robert 
Crosley, Lemual 
Tuggle, Wm. 
Holtzclaw, John 
Greene, A. 


638 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Whitaker, Thomas J. 
Baugh, John A. 
Godkin, Jas. W. 

Moore, Jas. 

Jarrell, Elisha, P. 
Johnson, Peter 
White, W. H. 

Giar, David 
Wilson, J. 

Asbury, Jesse 
Hobbs, Nathan 
Copelan, John 
Bridges, Hardy 
Mitchell, Jas. L. 
Wilson, Jesse M. 
Wingfield, Matthew 
Foster, Moses 
Hutcherson, Jas. 
Billingslea, Jas. F. 
Jackson, Arch’d 
Veazey, John L. 
Champion, Jesse W. 
Parks, W. 

Cox, Ed. J. 

Thornton, Jas. A. 
Hunter, E. Sparks 
Armour, Reuben B. 
Davidson, Jas. M. 
Hutchinson, Jno. 
Wilson, Jesse M. 
Spencer, B. E. 

Malone, D. R. 

Stovall, L. 

Lawrence N. Hartwell 
Jernigan, Albert 
Holtzclaw, John G. 
Tribble, Thos. 

Tuggle, Wm. Jr. 
Winfield, Matthew 
Twilley, James 
Foster, Moses F. 
Maddox, Wm. D. 
Wilson, J. M. 

Manley, Wm. 

Moore, James 
Jarrell, Elisha P. 
Bridges, Hardy 
Hudson, Wm. 
Hutchinson, Jas. C. 
Jackson, Archibald 
Griffin, Robert 
Armour, Reubin 
Tuggle Wm. Sr. 
Eley, Samuel 
Chaney, Wm. O. 
Veazey, John 
Veazey, John 
Brantley, Howell 


O’Neal, Wooten 
Greene, Samuel 
Baugh, John A. 
Twilley, Jas. 

Tuggle, Wm. Jr. 
Hunter, E. Sparks 
Lawrence, H. H. 

Bruce, Ephraim 
Davison, Jas. M. 
Lindsey, Jeremiah 
Robbins, John 
Findley, Jas. F. 
Timmerman, Jno. F. 
Wright, Samuel 
McWhorter, Robert L. 
Northern, Peter 
Finley, Jas. T. 

Wilson, Jesse M. 

Hill, Abner R. 
Rowland, Jas. J. 

Lasley, David 
Bruce, Ephraim 
Lawrence, H. H. 
Hunter, E. S. 

Ruggle, Wm. 

Williams, Isaac A. 
Carrol J. Alison 
McWhorter, Robert L. 
West, Thos. J. 

Corry Wm. A. 

O'Neal, Wooten 
Griffin, Robert 
Gaston, W. S. 

Ely, Samuel 
Tuggle, Wm. Sr. 
Lindsey, Jeremiah 
Davison, Jas. M. 

Smith, Reuben C. 
Lucas, John C. 
Timmerman, John F. 
Wright, Samuel 
Moore, Jas. 

Jarrell, Elisha 
Fambrough, Thos. M. 
Porter, Jas. M. 

Veasey, John L. 
Tackson, L. B. 

Burke, Chas. J. 
Malone, John 
Sanders, Wm. 

Cheney, W. O. 
Bridges, Hardy 
Crawford, Thos. 
Williams, Tas. D. 
Hatchell, Francis 
Kelly, Reubin B. 
Kimbrough, Wm. G. 
Hubbard, B. M. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


639 


1849-1852 

Holtzclaw, John G. 
Williams, Jas. D. 
Greer, Jas. F. 

Davison, Jas M. 

Corry, Wm. A. 

Cox, John T. 
Zimmerman, John F. 
King, John W. 

Moore, W. W. 
Hightower, Daniel 
Findley, James T. 
Adams, Habersham J. 
Griffin, Robert F. 
Kelly, Jas. 

Bruce, Ephraim 
Rowland, John G. 
Jackson, L. B. 

Walker, Wm. R. 
Bishop, Wilson S. 
Foster, Moses F. 
Hunter, Elisha S. 
Tuggle, Wm. Jr. 

Hill, Augustus H. 
Williams, Isaac A. 
Meritt, John C. 
Bridges, Hardy 
Copelan, John 
Spencer, B. E. 
Hubbard, B. M. 
Drennen, Joseph W. 
Willis, Alfred L. 

Scott, A. T. 

Tarwater, James L. 
Rowland, Bazzel 
Slaughter, Geo. W. 
Brawner, Jesse M. 
Walker, Samuel 
Carroll, A. A. J. 
Merett, Benj. 

Wiley, Hailes J. 
Sanders, Thos. L. 

1853-1860 

Willis, A. L. 

Doster, W. T. 
Rowland, Bazzel 
Kelly, Jas. M. 

Greer, Jas. F. 

Beazley, E. N. 
Holtzclaw, J. G. 
Spencer, B. E. 

Moore, Wm. W. 
Hightower, Daniel 
Wright, Jefferson 
Harris, John P. 


Partee, Walter 
Tuggle, Wm. 

Overton, Wm. A. 
Smith, Thos H. 

Bruce, Ephraim 
Williams, Jas. D. 
Scott, John 
Merritt, Benj. 

Parker, Jeptha 
English, Wm. 
Richards, Wm. R. 
Thompson, G. H. 
Robins, John 
Jernigan, Albert A. 
Hudson, Wm. 

Moore, Wm. A. 
Bowden, Robert C. 
Cox, James M. 
Tackson, Robert H. 
Johnson, W. G. 
Merritt, Wm. T. 
Wilson. Wm. T. 

Cox, Wm. R. 
Colcough, Wm. A,. 
Tarwater, Jas. L. 
Godkin, Jas. W. 
Zimmerman, John F. 
Partee, Walter 
Wragg, Jas. H. 
Overton, Wm. A. 
Thornton, Thos. R. 
Kelly, Tas. M. 

Kelly, R. B. 

Moore, W. A. 

Parker, Joseph R. 
Robins, John 
Wright, Jefferson 
Merritt, Wm. T. 
Robins, John 
Cartwright, J. A. 
Bowen, Robert C. 

Cox, Wm. R. 

Parker, Joseph R. 
Caldwell, Littleton 
Davison, Jas. 

Wingfield, Edward 
Bowden, Elliott C. 
Caldwell, Littleton 
Bowden, R. C. 
Cartwright, J. A. 
Wingfield, Edward H. 
Weaver, Henry C. 
Davison, Jas. 

Corry, Wm. A. 
Merritt, Benj. 

W^gnon, Geo. H. 
O’Neal, John 


640 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


1853-1865 

Williams, E. L. 

Kelly, J. M. 

Burgess, E. A. 

Partee, W. A. 

Dolvin, J. T. 

Colcough, W. A. 
Vincent, C. A. 

Godkin, J. W. 

Merritt, J. C. 

Williams, J. A. 

Wilson, W. R. 
Davidson, Jas. 

Merritt, Benj. 

Weaver, Henry C. 
Wagnon, Geo. 

Armour, J. N. 

Caldwell, L. D. 
Thornton, Joel T. 
Tuggle, Wm. L. 

Robing John 
Wright, J. F. 

Moore, W. M. 

Parker, J. R. 

Crawford, J. A. 

Reeves, Wm. D. 
Hawkins, J. T. 
Thompson, H. E. 
Hutchinson, Charles R. 
Sa-e, T. J. 

Caldwell, L. D. 

Tones, Tas. J. 

Batchelor, Jesse 
McWhorter, Frederick 
Brown, Lucius C. 
Thornton, Thos. R. 
Armor, Jas. N. 

Moody, E. B. 

Tuggle, J. J. 

Jones, J. J. 

Kimbrough, A. L. 
O’Neal, John 
Wagner, J. P. 
Crawford, Josiah H. 
Reeves, W. D. 
McWhorter, Fred 
Thornton, T. R. 
Broome, L. C. 
Colcough, W. A. 
Cramer, Elihu 
Vincent, C. A. 

Foster, T. F. 

Merritt, J. C. 

Caldwell, L. D. 

Parker, J. R. 

Moore, J. J. 

Davison, Jas. 


Wilson, J. P. 
Williams, E. S. 
Kelly, R. B. 
Hutchinson, T. L. 
Hutchinson, C. R. 
Rowland, J. J. 
Whight, J. F. 

Owen, S. J. 

Godkin, Tas. W. 
Wilson, Wm. R. 
Wragg, Jas. H. 
Thornton, Thos. R. 
Tuggle, Wm. L. 
Burgess, E. A. 
Smith, A. H. 
Jackson, A. J. S. 
Boswell, Geo. N. 
Armor, Oliver H. L. 
Dolvin, Jno. T. 
Watson, J. S. 

Hall, Isaac R. 
Tuggle, Wm. L. 
Tuggle, P. J. 
Clements, Phillip 
Wagon, Jno. P. 
^ir'hmore, W. H. 
Dolvin, John T. 
Watson, J. S. 

T^all, Isaac R. 
Tuggle, Wm. L. 
Tuggle, P. J. 
Clements, Phil P. 
Wagnon, Jno. P. 
Copeland, Jno. D. 
Birch more, W. H. 
Partee, W. A. 
Kennedy, Jas. J. 
McWhorter, Jas. H. 
Moore, Wm. A. 
F'luker, O. E. 

Dolvin, J. T. 

Wright, W. H. 
Sanders, C. H. 

1865-1880 

Smith, Jas. C. 
Godkin, Tas. W. 

T undv, W. C. D. 
McWhorter, P. H. 
barker, T. R. 

Partee, W. A. 
v oung, Jas. L . 
Burgess, R. L. 
Dolvin, John T. 
Robins, A. M. 
Parker, J. R. 
Burgess, E. A. 
Stovall, W. H. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


641 


Johnson, W. G. 
Boswell, John R. 
McWhorter, J. H. 
Foster, W. E. 

Young, Jas. L. 
Wagnon, John P. 
Ray, B. F. 

Burgess, R. L. 
Caldwell, L. D. 
Dolvin, John T. 
Bickers, B. F . 
Durham, W. G. 
Foster, W. T. 

Cheney, P. M. 

Young, Jas. L. 
Caldwell, L. D. 
Dolvin, John T. 
Griffin, Jas. M. 
Florence, F. B. 
Smith, A. H. 
Thomas, J. V. 
Burgess, E. A. 
Young, Jas. L. 
Cheney, P. M. 
Burgess, E. A. 
Durham, W. G. 
Thomas, Jesse V. 
Ray, Thos. 

Caldwell, L. D. 
Dolvin, Jno. T. 
Kimbrough, John P. 
Flowrence, R. B. 
Gresham, A. E. 
Crossley, J. L. 
Crutchfield, F. L. 
McWhorter, J. V. 
Hutchinson, Tollie S. 
Fluker, O. E. 

Smith, Geo. N. 
Durham, J. F. 
Dolvin, Jno. T. 

Smith, A. H. 

Smith, Jas. O. 

Moore, W. A. 
Boswell, W. B. 

Wray, Thos. 
Crutchfield, E. L. 
Sanders, L. T. 

Dolvin, J. T. 

Durham, W. G. 
Crutchfield, E. L. 
Boswell, W. B. 
Reynolds, J. W. 
Wheat, W. H. 
Burgess, J. T. 
Thomas, J. V. 

Smith, G. N. 
Edmondson, Jas. T. 


Young, Jas. L. 
Copelan, H. W. 

1880-1913 

Wheat, W. H. 
Gresham, S. S. 
Smith, Geo. N. 
Wray, Thos. 
Sanders, L. T. 
Perkins, Jas. H. 
Reynolds, J. W. 
Durham, W. G. 
Crutchfield, E. L. 
Fluker, O. E. 
Crutchfield, J. W. 
Stinchcomb, D. D. 
Wheat, W. H. 
Strozier, B. P. 
Durham, W. G. 
Dolvin, John T. 
Perkins, J. H. 
Reynolds, M. J. 
Young, Jas. L. 
Strozier, B. P. 
Hitchcock, W. J. 
Gresham, S. S. 
Smith, G. N. 

Smith, W. F. 
Gresham, S. S. 
VanWinkle, J. W. 
Crutchfield, J. W. 
Durham, W. G. 
Crutchfield, E. L. 
Dolvin, J. T. 
Fluker, O. E. 
Stinchcomb, D. D. 
Nash, W. R. 
Copeland, A. L. 
Hall, Jno. T. 

Ham, Newton 
Cawthon, L. S. 
Gresham, S. S. 
Wheat, W. H. 
Smith, G. W. 
Willoughby, S. J. 
Bynum, J. H. 
Crutchfield, E. L. 
Crutchfield, J. W. 
Ham, Newton 
Durham, W. G. 
VanWinkle, J. W. 
Rhodes, R. H. 
Reynolds, J. A. 
Nash, W. R. 

Ham, Newton 
Dolvin, R. T. 
Reynolds, J. A. 
Freeman, W. H. 


642 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Simmons, J. B. 

VanWinkle, J. W. 

Wray, Syd 
Wray, Thomas 
Smith, G. N. 

Hutchinson, T. S. 

Callaway, J. S. 

Bynum, J. H. 

Callaway, John S. 

Wray, Thomas 
Jackson, H. S. 

Willoughby, S. J. 

Smith, G. N. 

Smith, L. P. 

Reynolds, J. A. 

McWhorter, R. B. 

Rhodes, R. H. 

Rhodes, R. Barnett 

Grand Jurors, January 1790 
Minutes of Greene Co. Superior 

Harris, Thomas, Foreman 
Daniel, Wm. 

Love, David 
Gresham, Davis 
Baldwin, Robert 
Harris, Walton 
Shelby, Moses 
Harris, Walton 
Shelby, Wm. 

Spratling, Joseph 
Miller, John A. 

Heard, Wm. 

Cochran, Abner 
Jenkins, James 
Assistant Justices 

1789 

Harris Thomas 
Graybill, Henry 
Cochran, William 
Barnett, Abraham 
Rabun, Matthew 
Greer, Williams 

1803 

Phillips, Joseph 
Daniel, Wm, 

Wingfield, Thos. 

Strain, Wm. W. 

Owsley, Wm. 

Watson, J. 

Smith, Wm. 

Coleman, John 
Crawford, Thos. 

Love, Robert 
Daniel, Jas. 


Royston, Richard C. 

Bush, John 
Stephens, Nathaniel 
Riley, John 
Greer, Wm. 

Gresham, A. 

McAllister, John 
Bishop, Stephen 
Armor, Jno. 

Lacy, Jesse 
Speer, Moses 
Roberts, Daniel 
Hunter, Phillips 
Cartwright, Peter 
Garner, John 
Kimbrough, John 
Watson, Wm. 

County Surveyors, 1787-1920 
Greene County 

Greer, William 
Strain, Wm. W. 

Robins, Elijah 
Browning, Wm. 

Stewart, James 
Crawford, Thos. 

Butler, Edmund M. 

Mercer, Joel E. 

Holtzclaw, John G. 
Harralson, Herndon 
Turnen, Jared L. 

Holtzclaw, John G. 

Turner, J. L. 

Wright, Jefferson F. 

Brown, L. C. 

Beasley, W. A. 

Perkins, H. T. 

Turner, S. P. 

Perkins, H. Troup 
Johnson, Paul 
Turner, Sam. P. 

County Treasurers 

1786-1914 

Wood, J. Henry 
McWhorter, W. H. Jr 
Griffin, Walter 
Wood, John H. 

Wynn, J. H. 

Copelan, John D. 

Park, James B. Jr. 

Hall, George A. 

Brown, James H. H. 

Hall, Geo. A. 

Williams, J. B. 

Merritt, W. C. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


643 


Branch, Henry 
Branch, L. H. 

Clerks of Superior 
Court 
1790-1920 

Fitzpatrick, William 
Graybill, Henry 
Daniel, William 
Bradley, Edward 
Park, Ezekiel 
Carleton, Thos. 

Park, Ezekiel 
Carleton, Thos. 

Bethune, John 
Torrance, Ebenezer 
Grimes, Thos. W. 

Sanford, Vincent 
Hall, Isaac R. 

Caldwell, C. J. 

Hall, Isaac R. 

Wilson, Jesse P. 

Wilson, J. P. 

Crossley, J. L. 

Hall, Guy W. 

Willis, S. H. 

Stanley, E. J. 

Registers of Probates 

1786-1897 
Phillips, William 

Clerks, Courts of Ordinary 
1799-1924 

Carleton, Sr., Henry 
Torrance, Ebenezer 
Grimes, Thos. W. 

Strain, Wm. L. 

Godkin, Jas. W. 

King, Eugenius L. 

Newsom, D. A. 

Thornton, Joel F. 
McWhorter, Jas. H. 
Merritt, G. A. 

Shipp, F. B. 

Shipp, Nell 

Coroners of Greene County 

1786-1920 

Daniel, Charles 
Harris, Thomas 
Love, David 
Cartwright, Hezekiah 
Speer, Moses 


Carleton, Thos. 

Owen, Thos. 

Stewart, Allen 
Coleman, Cuthbert 
Furlow, James 
Randle, Jas. G. 

Perdue, Daniel 
Ralls, Hector 
Baynon, Watkins 
Clapp, John 
Godkin, Jas. W. 
Stubblefield, Gustavus 
Bruce, Joel 
Stubblefield, G. G. 
Hurlbert, Roswell 
Hunt, Henry E. 

Corley, E. B. 

Smith, W. C. 

Bruce, John L. 

Hurlbert, Roswell 
Sullivan, John H. 
Zimmerman, John F. 
Schell, T. J. 

Foster, Thos. F. 

Wood, Henry J. 

Wood, John H. 

Tuggle, C. H. 

King, H. H. 

O’Neal, Alex S. 

Veazey, J. A. 

Swann, S. O. 

Avery, J. E. 

Irby, R. H. 

Irby, Roy 
Copeland, A. L. 

Veazey, Jas. 

Clerks of Inferior Court, 
Greene Co. 

1786-1866 

Fitzpatrick, Rene 
Daniel, Wm. 

Carleton, Thos. 

Carleton, Henry, Jr. 
Torrence, Ebenezer 
Martin, Robert E. 

Love, Hugh 
Gilbert, John 
Sanford, Vincent 
Hall, Isaac R. 

Greene Co. Sheriffs 
1786-1920 

Phillips, Joseph 
Cessna, John 
Heard, Abraham 


644 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Speer, Moses 
Fitzpatrick, Rene 
Fannin, Joseph Decker 
Cox, John 
Houghton, Joshua 
Grimes, Thos. W. 

Anderson, John 
Dawson, Thos. 

Rogers, Henry 
Dawson, Thos. 

Hall, Alex. 

Howard, Nicholas 
Hall, Alex 
Howard, Nicholas 
Greer, William 
Howard, Nicholas 
Dawson, George 
Greer, Wm. 

Strain, Wm. L. 

Armstrong, John 
Jackson, James W. 

Watts, Harrison H. 

Burke, James 
Morrison, Isaac 
Foster, S. F. 

Woodham, Garrett 
Norton, Chas. C. 

English, John D. 

Swan, J. J. 

English, Joseph H. 

Hailes, R. C. 

English, J. C. 

Oliver, Columbus C. 

Swann, S. O. 

Hixon, E. C. 

Greene County Tax Receivers 
1786-1920 

Gaither, Brice 
Dolvin, John 
• Lamar, John 
Taylor, James 
Carleton, Thomas 
Daniel, Charles 
Carleton, Thomas 
Kennedy, Fields 
Browning, William 
Johnson, Thomas 
Fannin, Joseph D. 

Johnson, Thomas (1805-21) 
Hall. Isaac R. (1821-30) 
Sanford, Daniel (1830-52) 
Woodham, Garrett 
Greene, Augustine F. 

English, William 
Woodham, G. 

Brooks, James 
Cropley, I. T. 


Finch, John E. 

Mitchell, John 
Newsom, Richard 
Little, Charles E. 

Hilsman, Judge 
Thompson, Green H. 

Wagnon, J. P. 

Cope,lan, Miles G. 

Colcough, John M. 

Coplan, Miles G. 

Colcough, John M. 

Smith, K. 

Dolvin, R. T. 

Smith, Kitto 
Tappan, A. B. 

Tax Collectors, Greene Co. 

1786-1920 

Baldwin, Thomas 

(special tax from those desiring ex¬ 
emption from Military duty in In¬ 
dian war, 1787.) 

Cessna, John 
Cerick, James 
Kilpatrick, Joseph 
Swepson, John 
Porter, Oliver 
Adams, David 
Heard, Abraham 
Fitzpatrick, Rene 
Kennedy, Fields 
Fannit, Isham 
Riley, Joseph, 1805-25 
Weaver, Wm. W. W. 

Hall, Isaac 
Criddle, Collier S. 

Kicker, Robert T. 

Porter, James M. 

Turner, Jared L. 

Griffin, Robert 
Nichelson, Geo. P. 

Scott, Adam T. 

Moore, Wm. A. 

Copeland, Jasper N. 

Alfriend, B. C. 

Brooks, James 
Copelan, Miles G. 

Thompson, G. H. 

Copelan, Milles G. 

Copeland, Wiley G. 

Copelan, Wiley G. 

Copelan, Miles G. 

Mapp, Henry S. 

Perdue. L. C. 

Hailes, John T. 

McCommas, Robt. L. 

Lewis, E. L. 

Cawthon, L. S. 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


645 


Justices of the Inferior Court 

Stocks, Thomas 

Greene County 

Park, James S. 

Created Feb. 3, 1786 

West, Francis 

Cone, William 

From 1786-1868 

Boothe, Robert 

Harris, Thomas 

Hutchinson, Ambrose 

Houghton, Thomas 

Stocks, Thomas 

Harris, Walton 

Cone, William 

Gresham, Davis 

Heard, George 

Fitzpatrick, Wm. 

Hutchinson, Ambrose 

Dickson, David 

West, Francis 

Houghton, Thos 

Stocks, Thomas 

Graybill, Henry 

Cone, William 

Dickson, David 

Godkin, James W. 

Love, David 

Porter, James M. 

Cochran, Wm. 

Perkins, Abraham 

King, John 

Stocks, Thomas 

MsAlphin, Robert 

Godkin, James W. 

Love, David 

Ray, Robert 

Burnes, Andrew 

Nickelson, James B. 

Carleton, Thomas 

Howell, John J. 

McAlphin, Robert 

Hall, Isaac R. 

Cochran, Wm. 

Cunningham, Thomas 

Gresham, Davis 

Stocks, Thomas 

Porter, Oliver 

Godkin, James W. 

Nisbet, James 

Cunningham, Thomas 

Greer, Wm. 

Hall, Isaac R. 

Fitzpatrick, Wm. 

Nickelson, James B. 

Greer, William 

Stocks, Thomas 

Gresham, Archibald 

Godkin, James W. 

Harper, Samuel 

Hall, Isaac R. 

Nisbet, James 

Anderson, Stewart 

Fitzpatrick, Wm. 

Burk, James 

Porter, Oliver 

Winfield, Matthew 

Strain, William W. 

Hall, Isaac R. 

Fauche, Jonas 

Winfield, Matthew 

Lewis, Nicholas 

Davison, James M. 

Gresham, Archibald 

Williams, Isaac A. 

Harper, Samuel 

Copelan, John 

Porter Oliver 

Gresham, Sterling A. 

Strain, William W. 

Willis Alfred L. 

Maddox, Clayborn 

Weaver, Wm. W. D. 

Stocks, Thomas 

Jackson, LittleBerry 

Lewis, Nicholas 

Johnson, Wiley G. 

Grimes, Sterling 

Holtzclaw, John G. 

Maddox, Clayborn 

Zimmerman, John F. 

Porter, Oliver 

Johnson, Wiley, G. 

Stocks, Thomas 

Jackson, LittleBerry 

Lewis, Nicholas 

Zimmerman, John F. 

Grimes, Sterling, 

Weaver, Henry C. 

Maddox, Clayborn 

Willis, Alfred L. 

Cone, William 

Corry, William A. 

Terrell, David S. 

Johnson, Wiley G. 

Early, Joel 

Carlton, L. D. 

Park, James S. 

Moore, William W. 

West, Francis 

Weaver, Henry C. 


646 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Judges, Superior Court 
Ocmulgee Circuit 
1807-1960 

Early, Peter, 1807-13 

Harris, Stephen Willis, 1813-16 

Strong, Christopher, 1816-22 

Longstreet, Augustus Baldwin, 1822-25 

Kinan, Owen H., 1825-28 

Shorter, Eli S., 1828 

Cobb, Thomas W. 1828-30 

Saffold, Adam G., 1830 

Lamar, Lucius Q. C., 1830-33 

Polhill, John G., 1834-38 

Saffold, Adam G., 1838 

Hill, Edward Young, 1838-41 

Cone, Francis Hiram, 1841-45 

Dawson, William Crosby, 1845 

Meriwether, James A., 1845-49 

Johnson, Herschel Vespasian, 1849-53 

Cone, Francis Hiram, 1853 

Hardeman, Robert Vines, 1853-59 

Harris, Iverson Louis, 1859-66 

Reese, Augustus, 1866-67 

Foster, Nathaniel Green, 1867-68 

Robinson, Phillip B., 1868-73 

Bartlett, George T., 1873- 

Lawson, Thomas Graves, 1879-87 

Jenkins, William Franklin, 1887-95 

Hart, John Collier, 1895-1902 

Foster, Frederick C., 1902 

Lewis, Hugh Graham, 1903-11 

Park, James Billingslea, 1911-39 

Jackson, Joseph Benjamin, 1939- 

Carpenter, George, 1960 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


647 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 
Watkin’s Digest of Georgia Laws 

(“Georgia’s Landmarks, Memorials and Legends” by Lucian 
Lamar Knight. 

Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Ga. 

Inferior and Superior Court Records, Greene County 
Minutes of Various Churches and Church Conferences. 

“The Augusta Chronicle” 

Greensboro-Heraldjournal ,Greensboro, Ga. 

Old Diaries, 1818 
Scott’s Gazeteer, 1799 
White’s History of Georgia. 

“Georgia’s Bicentennial Memories and Memoirs”, Knight. 
“Georgia Scenes”, by Judge A. B. Longstreet. 

Records from Duke University About Greene Co. 

Robinson’s History of Ga. 

Ragsdale’s History of Ga. Baptists. 

“Memories of an Old Time Ga. Lawyer”, by Garnett. 

Gilmer, Rev. Geo. Smith, “Early History of Ga.” 
Union-Recorder, at Milledgeville. 

Jefferson Agricultural Society of Greene County 
Bartram’s Travels. 

“History Of Georgia”, by Cooper 

“Dukesborough Tales”, by Richard Malcolm Johnson. 

“History of Jones County”, by C. W. Williams. 

Court Records. 

Church Minutes. 

Newspaper Files. 

Acts of the Ga. Legislature. 

Diary of Thomas Stocks, 1818-1932. 

Planter’s Weekly, 1850-59 Greensboro, Ga. 

Georgia Crusader, Dec. 6, 1861. 

Index, 1840-61. 


648 


HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY 


Clayton’s Digest of Georgia Laws. 

Montgomery Advertiser, June 7, 1861. 

Letters of Bowen’s written from U.S.A. to them as Missionaries 
in Liberia, Africa. 

The Missionary, Dec. 27, 1824. Hancock County, Ga.— 

Mt. Zion. 

The Greensboro Gazette, 1852. 

Athens Banner, 1854. 

Farmer’s Gazette, Sparta, Ga. August 23, 1806. 

Temperance Crusader, May 10, 1856. 

Georgia Journal, Milledgeville, Ga. Dec. 19, 1826. 

“Men of Mark in Georgia”, by W. J. Northen. 

Dictionary of American Biography. 

“Memoirs of Elder Jesse Mercer”, by C. D. Mallary. 

“The South in History and Literature”, by Mildred Rutherford. 
“Handbook of the State of Ga.” by Thomas P. Janes— 

A.M., M.D. 

Confederate Military History, by Evans. 

“A Short History of Ga.” by Coulter. 

Bench and Bar, 1858. 

“Georgia”, Sketches, of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, 
bv Allen D. Candler. 






































































































